These crimes are often committed during the day at shopping malls, complexes, other business areas and residential areas.
“Theft out of vehicles is becoming an increasingly reported problem in the Bedfordview area. I am uncertain if this is actually as a result of community members being victims of these crimes, or whether these are a growing trend of false reports by locals attempting to scam insurance companies,” said the Bedfordview SAPS communications officer, Sergeant Mduduzi Nhlabathi.
“We are currently investigating all these cases and if we can establish and prove that community members are opening false cases to scam insurance companies, we will charge these perpetrators with perjury. However, should this be a genuine increase in theft out of vehicles, we would like to alert the Bedfordview community of the various ways theft of vehicles can occur and how to prevent it,” he said.
Gaining entry into vehicles by breaking the windows or using a jamming device is the usual methods of theft out of vehicles.
Items such as CD players, radios, cellular phones, wallets, purses, cash, sunglasses, sport bags, music players and GPS navigation systems are the main targets.
The remote jamming scam is increasingly being used by criminals who watch their targets as they lock and leave their vehicles. Criminals then use another remote to interfere with the vehicle owners’ vehicle remote frequency, preventing them from locking the car.
“The only way to prevent your valuables from being stolen out of your car is to avoid leaving them in it. Carry only what is necessary, keeping what is left hidden from view and then remembering to remove valuables on arriving at your destination. This decreases the chances of being a victim of this crime,” said Sgt Nhlabathi.
Safety tips:
- Park your vehicle in a safe place that is well lit. If you can, park your vehicle behind locked gates or in the garage. The most common place where theft out of vehicles occurs is in the street outside your home.
- Install a tracker, immobiliser and alarm system in your vehicle. Remember to activate your alarm system and other security equipment at all times.
- Lock your vehicle and close all windows properly, whether at home or in a public place. Test physically, if needs be, as remote control jammers are used in some instances.
- Any valuables such as handbags, cellular phones and shopping parcels are a temptation for any criminal. Put them out of sight in the boot of your vehicle.
- Be on the lookout for suspicious people in the area – ordinary vagrants are not the people who steal vehicles.
