A spate of hijackings and robberies at petrol stations across Gauteng has prompted the police and other industry players to issue an alert to all motorists to be especially vigilant, Fidelity ADT said in a statement.
Vishal Premlall, director of the South African Petroleum Retail Association (Sapra) said that last week alone, there were incidents at petrol stations in Illovo and Roodepoort.
According to research compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, hijackings in South Africa have increased by 55 per cent in the past four years, to at least 40 hijackings daily. Gauteng is cited as the hotspot for vehicle theft and car hijackings, with almost two out of every three incidents occurring here.
Premlall confirmed the worrying trend of petrol stations now increasingly being targeted as hotspots for these hijacking or robberies and warned motorists to stay alert.
Linda Reeder, Fidelity ADT Community Development Manager, added that it is important motorists plan their routes carefully, so they don’t have to stop in high risk areas to fill up.
“Ideally choose three preferred suppliers along your daily route and make sure you change your route regularly,” she said. She also said it is not advisable to fill up in the early hours or late evenings.
“Most importantly, a petrol station is not a place to let your guard down. Stopping to re-fuel your car is definitely not the time to stop and make calls or check your phone for messages. It is an open invitation that says, “I have a cellphone going, if anybody is interested”.
She went on to say that you can see from the video footage how dangerous it is to be distracted on your cellphone or to leave your door or window open. “Windows need to be closed at all times and your boot should also be locked.” She said unlocked passenger doors are an invitation to steal goods lying loose, or to hijack a car.
“A favourite criminal tactic is to distract the driver by coming up to your window and while they are speaking to you through the window, another person walks around your car and opens your passenger door.”
Premlall said it is important for motorists to understand that most petrol stations are not equipped to manage this type of risk and certainly all attendants are unarmed. Yusuf Abramjee, a social cohesion advocate, suggested that petrol stations should have a single entrance for entering and exiting the premises and added that technology needs to be used to fight crime at fuel stations. He suggested allocating a panic button to each petrol attendant, to automatically activate the closure of a boom-gate or the raising of spikes. This would entrap criminals and prevent them from leaving the premises.
“At the end of the day,” Reeder said, “when you are sitting at a petrol station, ensure you are aware of your surroundings and have a back-up plan in your mind in case of an emergency. Act as you would if you knew you were being watched, because you probably are!” she concluded.
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