With over 60 per cent of all hijackings taking place close to home, knowing what to look out for and how to avoid falling prey to hijackers is a very pertinent topic, said private security company, Fidelity ADT.
According to Charnel Hattingh, National Marketing and Communications Manager of Fidelity ADT, when it comes to vehicle hijackings, Gauteng comes out tops (23 per day), followed by KwaZulu- Natal (seven per day) and the Western Cape (six per day) according to the National Hijack Prevention Academy – the other provinces account for a total of nine per day.
“The majority of these hijackings occur in home driveways,” said Charnel.
She added that the South African digital news and media website, briefly.co.za, also revealed that the most hijacked vehicles in the country include the Volkswagen Polo, the Toyota Hilux and other Toyota models, the Ford Ranger, the BMW X5 and the Chevrolet Spark. These models are allegedly selected based on their demand in the market and the prospect of valuable items being found in luxury vehicles.
Charnel continued, saying that within Fidelity ADT’s footprint, Mondays and Tuesdays have shown the highest number of reported hijackings.
“There also appears to be a slight upsurge between 1pm and 2pm, which could be due to increased traffic during lunch hours. However, in our experience, the highest number of reported incidents tends to occur between 7pm and 8pm, during peak traffic times and where there is reduced visibility at night,” she said.
“Being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to respond if you find yourself in a hijacking situation is critical.”
Fidelity ADT and the National Hijack Prevention Academy offered drivers the following safety hints and tips:
• If you suspect you are being followed, put your indicator on and slow down at least two to three houses prior to your home. If you are being followed, you will force the vehicle behind you to pass and this could cause the criminals to lose interest.
• If you need to stop in your driveway to manually open the gate, always leave the key in the ignition and the motor running unless you have a child in the vehicle. Only then should you take the key with you as you open the gate. The key is a valuable negotiating tool – they want your vehicle and you want your child.
• Always make sure you can see the back wheels of the vehicle in front of you when you stop in the traffic. This gives you enough room to manoeuvre and escape.
• Don’t fall for the “tap tap” trap, where a criminal taps the back of your vehicle in traffic. Criminals often use women drivers as decoys here. Never get out of your vehicle on the scene to assess the damage but rather drive to a busy location. Signal to the other driver to follow you. If the issue is not legitimate, they will seldom follow you.
• If you stay in a secure complex with security guards, do not be fooled into thinking you are safe. You can easily be followed into your complex so always remain vigilant. Research shows that most people relax the closer they get to home and this is often when they are most vulnerable.
In the unfortunate event that you are hijacked, how do you hand your vehicle over in a non-threatening manner?
“The first and golden rule is to not antagonise the hijackers, who are probably more scared than you are. You need to show them you are not a threat. Lift up your arms to show you have no weapon and will surrender. Use your left arm to undo your seatbelt and put your vehicle in neutral.
“Do not turn off your vehicle,” said Charnel, “and get out slowly.
“Try to angle your body sideways so you are not facing a firearm head-on. Also remember to protect your head with your arms and avoid direct eye contact with the hijackers, but try to take in what they are wearing, the sound of their voices, etc. Most importantly, try to remain calm,” she concluded.
