Be vigilant in Auckland Park and Melville as carjackings are on the rise

The Brixton Police Station urges the public to be vigilant, especially while driving through areas such as Auckland Park and Melville.

This increase was made evident after a crime analysis was done that proved there has been an increase in carjackings with car makes such as Mercedes Benz, Audi and Golf.

According to the station’s, Jeanette Backhoff, in most of the reported cases, two to five males are involved with the same modus operandi. “The victims will be pulled off the road and put in the boot of the car and dropped off in Eldorado Park.”

She explained that Brixton police did put extra measures in place to catch the perpetrators, by doing extra patrols in and around the area and undercover operations.

“The safety of our community is our first priority and, therefore, we will make sure that no stone [is left] unturned until the perpetrators are caught and appear in court.”

Here are some tips the station provided:

• Drive with your windows closed
• Make sure your doors are locked at all times
• Be extra careful at traffic lights and check for anything unusual. If someone approaches your vehicle who looks suspicious, keep on blowing the hooter
• Plan your route properly and let someone know of your whereabouts
• Never drive the same route, use different routes
• Don’t sit in a vehicle that is parked in front of a yard or in the street. This is an open invitation to criminal activities
• If you drive during the night, try to drive where there is proper light.