With hijackings being a sad reality, Kloof Community Police Forum gave these safety tips to adhere to in the unfortunate event that you are hijacked:
1. Do not antagonise the hijackers, remain as calm as possible. You don’t want to cause an armed hijacker to panic or become angry.
2. Surrender – lift up your arms to show you have no weapon.
3. Put your vehicle into neutral and use your left arm to undo the seatbelt.
4. Do not turn your vehicle off.
5. Avoid direct eye contact with the hijackers.
6. Open the back door and let all passengers out.
7. If there is a small child in the back, let the hijackers know you will be removing him/her. Lean into the vehicle and remove the child.
8.Pick up the child and walk away from the scene as quickly as possible.
9. As soon as safely possible to do so flag down a passing motorist or ring a residents door bell.
10. Call 10111 to alert role players of the situation.
Some important facts to take note of:
1. Make sure that you know your vehicle registration, colour and make of the vehicle you are driving.
2. Make sure another family member also knows the details as in a traumatic situation you often forget details.
3. Alert SAPS of any marks, dents, stickers or identifying features on your vehicle.
4. If possible try and remember any clothing description or features like scars, limp, accent of the hijackers and how many suspects there were.
5. If you have a tracking device on the vehicle notifiy SAPS as well as your tracking company.
6. Arrange trauma counselling for yourself and family members involved. Often you may feel as if you are handling the situation well but the shock may only kick in a few days later when the full impact of what has actually happened hits home.
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