According to police, there were 12 773 reported car hijackings between 2014/15, compared to 11 180 in 2013/14 – an increase from 31 to 35 incidents per day, meaning that a car gets hijacked in South Africa once every 41 minutes.
Budget Insurance offered the following 10 practical tips to avoid becoming a hijacking statistic:
- Plan your route by using a GPS to avoid getting lost and becoming an easy target. Inform a person at your destination about your estimated time of arrival
- Stay alert, always remain aware of your surroundings and look out for anything suspicious
- Be confident and focused by limiting distractions such as checking or talking on your cellphone when walking to or from your car
- Always lock your car and avoid driving with windows open. Keep the doors locked and lock valuables out of sight. Install smash-and-grab window protection if possible
- Vary the routes you take to make it less predictable for criminals
- Check your mirror, if you suspect you are being followed, make a couple of false turns. If someone is still following you, drive to the nearest police station for assistance
- Allow space by leaving enough room between you and the car in front of you to avoid being boxed in
- Slow down in such a way that the light is green by the time you reach a traffic light, especially late at night – this avoids you coming to a complete stop and reduces your risk of becoming a target
- Avoid parking in dodgy areas and always park in a safe, well-lit area
- If you sense you are in danger, use the panic button on your tracking device if it has one, or contact your security provider.
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