Reminder: KCPF hijacking prevention tips
With Christmas approaching, crime is on the increase.
With the run up to Christmas there as been an increase in crime, including hijackings and attempted hijackings.
The Kloof Community Police Forum offers the following refresher tip:
Hijackings and attempted hijackings prevention tips:
1. 50 per cent of hijackings take place in your driveway or within 5kms from your home.
2. Before getting to your property get into the habit of adjusting your rear view mirror so you can see clearly if anyone is following you.
3. Turn your radio off, and take note of any person/s loitering near your property.
4. Don’t pull into your driveway and wait for gates to open, rather pull up alongside your drive way and only enter when your gates have opened. In this way no one can block you from behind, and if you need get away quickly you can do so.
In the event you find yourself in a hijacking situation –
1. Do not antagonise the hijackers, remain as calm as possible. You don’t want to cause an armed hijacker to panic or get angry.
2. Surrender, lift up your arms to show you have no weapon.
3. Put your vehicle into neutral, 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 and walk away from the scene quickly
8. As soon as safely possible to do so flag down a passing motorist / ring residents door bell and call
9. 10111 to alert role players of the situation.
Important information the police will need: vehicle registration, colour and make of your vehicle, any marks, dents, stickers or identifying features on your vehicle;
If at all possible try and remember any clothing description or features like scars / limps / accent etc the hijackers may have, and how many suspects there were.
If you have a tracking device on the vehicle notify SAPS as well as your tracking company.
“Get trauma counselling for yourself and family members involved, often you may feel like you are handling the situation but the shock may only kick in a few days after when you realise what has actually happened,” said Broodryk.
