The problem of crash and grabs is very serious. ATMs and electronics are always attractive targets, as are guns, jewelry, liquor, tools, and cash in the till. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is a phenomenon that loss control and risk management executives have had to deal with for years -- but this new surge in using vehicles to gain entry is lowering the bar in terms of planning, necessary resources, and risk.
Once again, prevention is the only means that will defeat these sorts of crimes. A quick search of YouTube will give you hundreds of surveillance camera videos showing thieves at work -- but by then, of course, it is too late. All of these crashes in Florida will cost FAR MORE in terms of repairs to structures and lost business than the thieves will earn selling stolen goods on eBay.
Store owners, you do not have to turn your store into a fortress -- preventing vehicle incursions takes simple planning and simple measures. The investment required is probably no more than the cost of the repairs that one crash and grab ram raid would be. Just having the measures in place tells thieves that you are the hardest target on the block -- and that they should move onto the softer targets down the street who have not yet taken measures to prevent these sorts of incidents.
http://www.local10.com/news/hialeah-verizon-store-broken-into-early-wednesday-morning/24677330