Gomorah, as Alexandra is often referred to, has been listed as number six for highjackings with 143 incidents, in a list which includes Booysens which claims the number one spot with 220.
Other spots in the top 10 are Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal with 188, Jeppe in Gauteng with 178, Moffatview in Gauteng with 164, Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal with 147, Thembisa in Gauteng with 142, Nyanga in the Western Cape with 137, Rietgat in Gauteng with 133, and Roodepoort in Gauteng with 129.
The majority of the hijackings in Alex are believed to have been committed in the notorious spot along Vincent Tshabalala Road at the traffic lights on the corner of 8th Avenue.
Criminals seem to prey on motorists at this busy section of Alex in the rush hours as it is a gateway for traffic to and from the business hub of Sandton.
Although the township does not feature in the top 10 for truck hijackings, the notorious spot has had numerous truck hijackings reported. Heidelberg and Alberton in Gauteng top the list for truck hijackings with 99 and 44 respectively, while the hotspots for vehicle theft are Honeydew and Roodepoort in Gauteng with 764 and 718 respectively.
OUTsurance has given some valuable tips to avoid being a victim of these crimes:
- Plan your route. Use a GPS to avoid getting lost and becoming an easy target. Inform the people or a person at your destination about your estimated time of arrival
- Stay alert. Always be aware of your surroundings and look out for anything suspicious. Be confident and focused. Limit distractions, such as checking or talking on your cellphone when walking to or from your car
- Lock up. Avoid driving with windows open, keep the doors locked and lock valuables out of sight. Install smash-and-grab window protection if possible
- Mix things up. Vary the routes you take to make it less predictable for criminals
- Check your tail. If you suspect you are being followed, make a couple of false turns. If someone is still following you, drive to the nearest police station
- Allow space. Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you to avoid being boxed in
- Savvy stopping. Slow down in such a way that the light is green by the time you reach a traffic light, especially late at night – this means you don’t have to come to a complete stop which reduces your risk of becoming a target
- Pick your parking spot. Always park in a safe, well-lit area
- Use panic buttons. If you sense you are in danger, use the panic button on your tracking device if it has one
- Go electric. Many hijackings happen just as you are entering or leaving your home. Having a well-lit, shrub-free driveway and an electric gate (that can switch to a battery during power failures) can help you get in and out safely. Use the remote to close the gate behind you, rather than waiting for the self-timer. This limits a criminal’s window of opportunity
- Know your neighbour. Knowing your neighbours and the cars they drive well help you to better identify suspicious individuals and vehicles
- Keep an SOS phone. Keep a spare, small and cheap phone loaded with airtime and emergency contacts (including your insurer) handy so that you can call for help even if your car and valuables are stolen
- Keep your car in tip-top shape. A broken down car makes you a target for would-be hijackers.
