Vehicle break-ins on the rise in SA: List of cars and areas targetted by criminals

Vehicle theft, hijacking and car break-ins statistics in South Africa are still an issue that seems to be rising each quarter.

The latest South African Police Services (Saps) quarterly crime statistics show that sedans, hatchbacks and coupes are the most hijacked vehicles. With brands that criminals have set their eyes on including the likes of Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen.

Marius Kemp, head of Personal Lines at Santam says car thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated and this has contributed to the increase in hijacking incidents in the country.

Criminals and technology

Kemp said criminals are taking advantage of the advancements in technology, as they commonly use high-tech approaches to replicate key fob signals and unlock motorists’ cars.  

“According to Tracker Connect, criminals are using relay and canvas attacks to bypass sophisticated vehicle security systems.”

The insurance industry has seen a significant increase in crime-related vehicle claims for both theft and hijacking with the trend continuing to worsen over the last two years, particularly for high-value vehicles

Criminals target keyless cars

He adds that there has also been an increase in claims for the theft of certain keyless cars through both hijacking and car jamming methods.

“With the rise in popularity of keyless vehicles, criminals have adapted their car jamming methods. Often, they work in pairs; where one criminal remains close to the vehicle and the other follows the driver to intercept the radio wave signal sent from the keyless remote to the vehicle receiver unit.”

ALSO READ: Courier driver airlifted in early morning shootout with hijackers

Business cars wanted

Crime statistics show that most car theft incidents happen in Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

According to the Tracker Vehicle Crime Index, in the Eastern Cape, a personal vehicle is four times more likely to be hijacked than stolen.

“Moreover, it is nine times likelier for a business-owned vehicle to be hijacked rather than stolen in the province. Plus, the highest propensity toward business vehicle crime occurs in the Eastern Cape, with 43% over-representation relative to Tracker’s business-owned vehicle subscriber base.”

When it comes to the Western Cape, a personal vehicle is almost twice as likely to be hijacked than stolen. A business-owned vehicle is four times more likely to be hijacked than stolen.

Business-owned vehicles include cargo trucks with trailers and courier vehicles delivering items ordered online. 

Nearly 65 hijackings each day

The Road Freight Association (RFA) told Business Tech that hijacking incidents have dramatically increased in the industry, with well-organised syndicates driving the escalation.

The association’s operational incident index shows that hijackings have increased by 50% in 2023, compared to 2022. And the number has gotten worse in 2024. There were nearly 65 hijackings reported each day in June of this year.

ALSO READ: SA’s hijacking hotspots in Gauteng and Cape Town revealed

Hotspots

Areas seen as hotspots in Gauteng include Eldorado Park, Ivory Park, and Midrand. KwaZulu-Natal’s hotspots are Mariannhill and Umlazi. With Western Cape’s hotspots being Delft, Nyanga, and Harare.

Cars most hijacked

The publication lists the below cars as the most hijacked this year:

• Ford Ranger
• Hyundai i20
• Nissan NP200
• Toyota Corolla Cross
• Toyota Corolla
• Toyota Etios
• Toyota Fortuner (GD6 and D4D)
• Toyota Hilux (GD6 and D4D)
• Toyota Prado
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Toyota RAV 4
• Volkswagens Polo (especially hatchbacks)

ALSO READ: Woman found in graveyard after Ford Ranger hijacking

Precautions motorists can take

Kemp says it is important for motorists to be extra careful and take every precaution to ensure their personal safety, and the safety of their belongings and avoid becoming victims of crime.

He lists some advice motorists can take to stay safe:

• Disable keyless entry — a convenience-focused feature that allows you to open and start a car by having its keyfob near the vehicle, instead of manually pressing a button.
• Make sure you have Smash and Grab anti-hijacking film on your car windows and keep your windows closed when stationary at traffic lights.
• Always Park your car off-street in a secure area, ideally in a garage at night, and while out and about during the day it is best to park in a highly visible area or in a paid undercover parking lot, where possible.
• Use a signal-blocking case to store your key.
• Do a manual check to see if your car doors are locked.
• Do not store valuables in your boot, especially in plain sight.
• Avoid known hijacking hotspots, and find alternative, safer routes to travel.

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