Hijacking prevention 101: Florida police share life-saving tips

To empower motorists and enhance road safety, the Florida Police Station has shared essential guidelines on how to handle a hijacking situation.

These tips were shared with the Roodepoort Record by Lieutenant Colonel Sipho Dlamini, who says they want to ensure that every driver is well-prepared and knows exactly what to do in the unlikely event of a hijacking attempt.

Recent data released by the police shows that 66 cars are hijacked every day, representing an increase of 34% over pre-pandemic levels.

Dlamini mentioned they have a huge problem with hijackings at the Maraisburg N1 offramp, and cases of stolen vehicles are going up.

He says they have also distributed pamphlets around the community to raise awareness of this problem.

Prevent becoming a target:

• Be observant of your surroundings at all times. If you are suspicious of a situation, drive away, stay clear of the area and phone the police
• Keep door closed, windows closed and valuables out of sight
• Do not respond to other motorists or pedestrians indicating something wrong with your vehicle (rather drive to your nearest garage or police station)
• In a case of a breakdown, immediately phone the emergency services or your insurance company
• Beware of people asking for directions
• Keep your house keys and car keys separate
• Do not try to remove or move obstacles on the road. If safe to do so, drive around them and report it to the police
• Avoid routine routes to and from work, shops, etc
• Avoid quiet streets and areas, and areas notorious for hijackings
• Never pick up strangers or hitchhikers

What to do if you are hijacked:

• Obey all demands by hijackers, do not offer resistance
• Try to remember as many as possible details, number of suspects, clothing, and number of vehicles involved (do this without the hijackers noticing)
• Do not become aggressive, threaten or challenge them
• Make notes immediately after the incident, while it is still fresh in your mind