Anti-hijacking tips: Protect yourself from being victim

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – • Always drive with your cellphone in your pocket, not in the bag, or in the boot or let it lie in the console. (This will help you if you are hijacked, you have the ability to call for help immediately afterwards.)

• When arriving home, keep your remote panic button on your lap ready to push at a moment’s notice.

• When arriving home, do not park in front of the gate, but pull over to the side of the road, then open the gate and wait for it to open fully. (Do not allow yourself to be boxed in at any time. You should be vigilant, looking around, know certain routines. Who should be there and who should not.)

• If you see something that is not right, a car making a unscheduled U-turn, stopping randomly or guys running towards you, pull off and close the gate while leaving, circle around the block. If they are still there, call your security company for an escort.

• Once you pull in past your gate, do not pull all the way in, move in just enough so that the gate can close. While looking in your rear view mirrors, put your car in reverse and wait. If someone tries to enter and you can see hostile intent, reverse by blocking the gate and their pathway with your vehicle. Then duck and exit moving away from the vehicle to a safe area, while pushing your remote panic multiple times, once every 30 seconds.

• Once in a safe area, use your cellphone that was in your pocket to call your security company, that should be on your speed dial for help.

Most important factors to remember:

1. Be vigilant, be vigilant, be vigilant, be vigilant.

2. Do not allow yourself to be boxed in at any time.

3. You can always replace a vehicle, cellphone or bag, but you cannot replace a life.