Douglasdale police are currently on the lookout for four suspects involved in a hijacking at a shopping centre in Douglasdale on 21 May.
Warrant Officer Balan Muthan head of the Douglasdale Police Station confirmed that the four men were driving a white A-Class AMG Mercedes with two black stripes down the bonnet, and a suspected false registration number plate, CV 07 LB GP.
Read: Beware of hijacking scam
Muthan urged residents to exercise caution if they came across a vehicle fitting this description.
He said hijackings in the Fourways area were sporadic and urged members of the community to be extremely observant, specifically when entering and exiting their homes.
Muthan added, “The number of hijacking cases that have been reported is not happening in one specific street or hotspot, which is becoming a concern for Douglasdale police management. Community members need to be careful when leaving and entering their driveways as most of these hijackings take place close to their homes or in their driveways.”
Budget Insurance offered the following 10 practical tips:
- Plan your route by using a GPS to avoid getting lost and becoming an easy target. Inform a person at your destination about your estimated time of arrival.
- Stay alert, remain aware of your surroundings and look out for anything suspicious.
- Be focused by limiting distractions such as checking or talking on your cellphone when walking to or from your car.
- Always lock your car and avoid driving with windows open. Keep the doors locked and lock valuables out of sight. Install smash-and-grab window protection if possible.
- Vary the routes you take to make it less predictable for criminals.
- Check your mirror – if you suspect you are being followed make a couple of false turns. If someone is still following you, drive to the nearest police station for assistance.
- Allow space by leaving enough room between you and the car in front of you to avoid being boxed in.
- Slow down in such a way that the light is green by the time you reach a traffic light, especially late at night – this avoids you coming to a complete stop and reduces your risk of becoming a target.
- Avoid parking in dodgy areas and always park in a safe, well-lit area.
- If you sense you are in danger, use the panic button on your tracking device if it has one, or contact your security provider.
Muthan urged anyone who has spotted the vehicle or with information to contact the Douglasdale Police Station.
Details: 011 699 1333.
Read more:
Generations star’s accident near Diepsloot was a possible hijacking
Douglasdale CPF chair shares steps to follow in a hijacking
Don’t become a hijacking statistic
