Over the past few weeks, the City Times has reported on several cases of white cars being recovered by officers of the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS).
BFS spokesperson WO Grant Giblin shared why.
“The ‘trend’ you pick up is the fact that the vast majority of vehicles sold and on our roads are white in colour, so it would be natural for most cars stolen to be white,” said the WO, who has 31 years of experience in the police.
“Another factor that adds to vehicles stolen or hijacked is the popularity of certain brands, as in how many are sold per month.
“Due to there being a large number of Toyotas and Volkswagens on our roads, to name but a few, it would seem they are targeted but the sheer volume available.
“The same in the bakkie market, if more Hilux and Rangers are being sold you would automatically find more stolen and recovered.”
Giblin explained that while specific vehicles seem to be targeted, any brand can be stolen.
“Sometimes the perpetrators may just need transport from one suburb to another, which means they will take whatever is available and dump it when they reach their destination or they have a specific order in place,” he explained.
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He provided some tips for members of the public:
• The public must always be alert as to their surroundings when driving around for anyone following them and when pulling in and out of residences.
• When visiting friends or family at other residences it is always best to park inside the premises.
• A vehicle parked on a public street means a criminal can have easy access to steal it or that he can hang around till the owner comes out to leave or move it and then hijack it.
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