FORTY five cars are hijacked everyday in South Africa with the majority of these occurring in home driveways. While Gauteng comes out tops with 23 stolen cars per day, KwaZulu-Natal is second with seven cars stolen per day.
According to Briefly.co.za, an online news platform, the five most hijacked cars in South Africa include the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Hilux and other Toyota models, Ford Ranger, BMW X5 and Chevrolet Spark. These models, it claims, are selected based on their demand in the market and the prospect of valuable items being found in luxury vehicles.
Private Security company, Fidelity ADT, says with over 60 per cent of all hijackings taking place close to home, knowing what to look out for and how to prevent falling prey to hijackers is very pertinent.
“Being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to respond if you find yourself in a hijacking situation is critical,” said Charnel Hattingh from Fidelity ADT.
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The security company has partnered with the National Hijack Prevention Academy to offer drivers the following safety hints and tips:
If you suspect you are being followed, put your indicator on and slow down at least two to three houses prior to your home. If you are being followed, you will force the vehicle behind you to pass and this could cause the criminals to lose interest.
If you need to stop in your driveway to manually open the gate, always leave the key in the ignition and the motor running unless you have a child in the car. Only then should you take the key with you as you open the gate. The key is a valuable negotiating tool – they want your car and you want your child.
Always make sure you can see the back wheels of the car in front of you when you stop in the traffic. This gives you enough room to maneuver and escape.
Do not turn off your car, says Hattingh, and get out slowly. “Try and angle your body sideways so you are not facing a firearm head-on. Also remember to protect your head with your arms and avoid direct eye contact with the hijackers but try to take in what they are wearing, the sound of their voices, etc. Most importantly try to remain calm,” she said.
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