Arrive Alive has warned motorists that the fact that it has become increasingly difficult to steal motor vehicles, with all the anti-theft devices, such as immobilisers, gear-locks, etc, has resulted in a dramatic increase in vehicle hijackings.
According to a statement by Arrive Alive, the hijacker has the element of surprise and this is a concern. The increasing retrenchment and the high unemployment figures are also factors. This is easy earned money and the already well-established syndicates will buy these vehicles from the hijacker. “Vehicle hijacking is an organised business, run according to business principles and based on thorough planning.
“Specific vehicles with specific characteristics are ordered beforehand and efforts have to be made to meet the requirements of such orders. These vehicles will then be resold to the already predetermined buyer.”
Arrive Alive said that the hijacked vehicles that are not sold to buyers in South Africa, will be smuggled out of the country. These vehicles will be sold in our neighbouring countries or trade, exchanged for drugs. “A large number of stolen and unlicensed firearms is also a concern. Most of these firearms are bought or supplied to the robbers by the syndicates. This easy access to firearms makes the robbery of a vehicle the easiest crime to commit and by far the quickest way of earning a few thousand rands.”
According to an analysis, hijackings occur every day of the week, reaching a high on Fridays, due to motorists being more relaxed and traffic increasing earlier on a Friday. Weekends show a lower hijacking rate due to syndicates checking their stock and placing orders on Mondays as well as the fact that there are fewer vehicles on the road. This also explains why Tuesdays and Wednesdays show more hijackings.
“The hijacking of vehicles reached its lowest point at 2am in the morning. Hijackings are low during the night and early hours of the morning and start increasing at 6am due to motorists leaving home for work and stabilises throughout the day,” said Arrive Alive.
Arrive Alive also explained that a drastic increase occurred from 5pm in the afternoon due to motorists heading home. Vehicles hijacked during peak hour (4pm to 8pm) may be explained by the fact that people returning from work are often tired, frustrated and not alert to potentially threatening circumstances.
Another explanation for this phenomenon is that highways are congested with traffic, which makes it almost impossible to catch hijackers involved without air support once they have disappeared into traffic.
Related article:
https://midrandreporter.co.za/228869/two-suspects-arrested-following-hijacking/
