A recent feature on Carte Blanche has highlighted a new frightening criminal tactic where suspects impersonate police officers and end up kidnapping and robbing unsuspecting drivers en route to a destination.
According to Linda Goodenough, community development manager for Fidelity ADT, the majority of cases have been reported on the R59 so motorists on this highway need to be especially vigilant.
This type of incident could occur anywhere so staying safe all starts off with correct planning.
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“You have to be prepared for your trip and be familiar with the route you want to travel,” said Goodenough.
“If you are relying on your cellphone to guide you where you want to go, you need to make sure that you have a battery charger in your car.
“It is wise to always have a plan B in case the GPS lets you down and decides to take you on the fastest route which is not necessarily the safest.
“Travel in the evening is obviously the most dangerous and it is key you use your rear view mirror at all times to check what is happening around you.
“You need to be particularly careful when slowing down for a robot.
“Your highest risk is if you come to a dead stand still in a deserted area,” said Goodenough, adding it is important to follow your gut instinct.
“If you are pulled over let someone know immediately that you are being pulled over.
“This could be a friend (send a pin drop), or if you have a tracking device it could be an Assist button or Find Me App.
“In these situations it is often difficult to describe exactly where you are.
“Ideally put on your indicators to acknowledge that you know that they want to pull you off.
“Ideally slow down a bit, put your lights on bright and hazards to attract attention of any passers by and drive to the nearest well lit area if at all possible.
“Most garages have cameras and you can phone 10111 en route who could potentially verify the vehicle registration number if it does not belong to SAPS.
“If you have family members and children in the car, try to prepare them without scaring them, but talk to them frankly.
“You need to have an emergency plan and the children must understand that they must follow your instruction no matter what,” said Goodenough.
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It is important to stress that these incidents are isolated and that most police officers are really just trying to do their job so it is still important to be courteous, respectful and obedient.
But what if it is a hijacking how do you survive?
Goodenough provides the following hints and tips:
• Decide today, what is worth more, your life or your car, know that decision up front.
• Obey the hijacker and avoid eye contact.
• Indicate with both hands up at chest level that you are willing to obey.Ensure your fingers are open so that they can see you haven’t got anything in your hands.
• Don’t make any fast unannounced movements which could startle your hijackers.
• When you receive the order to get out of the vehicles, start with seatbelt. Indicate that you want to undo your seatbelt, so the hijacker knows you have it on, because releasing the seatbelt can make a loud noise that can sound like a gun shot.
• Tell them that you are going to pull up the handbrake.
• Use your left hand to open the door and remember no jerking movements.
• Get out right foot first, then left food, hands up all the time.
• Alert them of pets or children or anybody else in the vehicle.
• Be obedient.
• Take in as much info as possible about the other vehicles and things that you can remember about the perpetrators; like tattoos, scars etc. things that stand out.Paint a picture in your head which you are going to remember.
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“This is critical information that you must give to authorities which will help them to put the perpetrators behind bars.
“Unfortunately as the economy continues to lag we could see more of these opportunistic type crimes,” said Goodenough.
“The golden rule is avoid any dangerously flagged areas if at all possible and always have a plan for any eventuality.
“You may even wish to consider joining your local Community Policing Forum( CPF).
“Most CPF groups have information on current crime trends and problem areas and can be a great support in times of crisis.?It is definitely worth considering.”
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