While crime is unpredictable, there are things one can learn to avoid, and most importantly, survive bad situations.
There are three lines of defence in the fight against crime – the police, security companies and last but not least –you.
The first two do their utmost to protect us but can only help to a certain extent. The police are inundated with calls to deal with rising crime rates and not everyone has access to private security.
This means the onus rests on us and because of this, it is important to educate ourselves about crime situations.
Crime statistics from April 2016 to December 2016 showed a decline in certain crimes but an escalation in others, such as contact crimes.
Robbery with aggravating circumstances (including carjacking) increased by 6,1 per cent.
Trio crimes (carjacking, robbery at home and robbery at non-residential premises) saw large increases with carjacking showing the biggest increase across all categories.
According to a research-based article published by Pro-Active SA, it was established that 95 per cent of violent crimes are committed using vehicles.
“Being able to apprehend perpetrators, or having the information leading to their apprehension made available to security service providers, can reduce the number of violent crimes being committed within your operating area,” said Malcolm Sacks, founder of Hijack Avoidance and Survival Skills South Africa (HASS).
Sacks believes that with professional training, you should be able to avoid being hijacked or survive an attack or hostage situation.
He has been developing skills training courses, aimed at helping people not end up as crime statistics, since 2002.
He said the majority of the avoidance training covers points that should be common sense to us all. However, he also said South Africans have an “it will never happen to me” attitude to hijacking.
“It is only once the raw, cold facts and scary statistics are presented that people sit up and take note of just how vulnerable we all are!” Sacks said.
For more information on HASS courses, contact Sacks on 083 282 6306 or via email to malcolm2911@gmail.com.
