It is important to:
- Keep calm
- Do not be confrontational but be compliant with the hijackers and do as they say
- Try to engage with the hijackers and appeal to their humanity
- While in the unfortunate situation, try and memorise as much detail as possible, such as the hijackers’ facial features, physical appearance, clothes they are wearing, their voices and mannerisms
- Give the hijackers your car or car keys and appeal to them to let you go.
Read Douglasdale resident shot dead in home; intensive manhunt for suspects underway
“Everything material is replaceable, people are not. It is important that the community knows that nothing can replace a life and to always comply if you are at the hands of criminals, no matter what. The biggest goal is preserving life in such situations,” Berdou stressed.
He added the following steps should you be set free from hijackers:
- Get as far away as you can from the perpetrators once you are given the opportunity to run away.
- Once you have run away from the hijackers and you cannot see them, call for help.
- It is important to give full details to the police and notify your next of kin.
- Get hold of your vehicle’s tracking company and let them know about the hijacking.
- Make sure your vehicle’s tracking company talks to the police.
- Once you are in a place of safety, the next step is to receive trauma counselling and professional help to get over the ordeal.
“Being hijacked is a very traumatic situation for a person to be in or to go through, so the public is advised to try by all means not to be subjects of a hijacking. By being far more careful of where you park, avoid wearing expensive jewellery and avoid visibly displaying your valuables in your vehicles,” Berdou said.
In case your life is endangered and you have no other way to escape from hijackers, the chairperson advised you do whatever you can to defend and protect yourself.
Read Douglasdale police celebrate National Police Day
What other tips do you have should anyone be involved in a hijacking? Share your views with us on the Fourways Review Facebook page
