According to Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela, spokesperson for Sandton Police Station, criminals were targeting malls and shopping centres in Woodmead, Benmore, Sandton CBD and Bryanston.
Theunis Kotzé, ADT general inland region manager said, “With over 60 percent of all hijackings taking place close to home, knowing what to look out for and how to prevent falling prey to hijackers is a very pertinent topic.” Kotzé added that being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to respond if you find yourself in a hijacking situation is critical as well.
Safety tips on how to avoid robberies in driveways:
- If you suspect you are being followed, put your indicator on and slow down at least two to three houses before 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 car. Only then should you take the key with you as you open the gate. The key is a valuable negotiating tool – they want your car and you want your child.
- Always make sure you can see the back wheels of the car 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 driver lightly bumps the back of your car in traffic. They often use female drivers as decoys here. Never get out of your car on the scene to assess the damage but rather drive to a busy location. Signal to the other driver to follow you. If it 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.
Also read WATCH OUT: Sandton police warn residents about driveway robbers
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