How to: React in a hijacking situation

Here are some guidelines of how to handle the situation if you ever find yourself in such a position.

You may think that it will never happen to you, but South Africa has one of the highest incidents of hijackings in the world according to Crisis On Call at www.crisisoncall.co.za.

It is wise to consider how you should react if you end up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Every day people all over the country have their vehicle forcefully taken from them and often with violence.

Emergency services on this site suggest that people remember the following if you are the victim of a hijacking.

• Do not panic, the hijacker is even more nervous than you are and sudden movements, screams or other actions could put your life and those of your passengers at risk.
• Follow the instructions of your hijacker closely but do not offer any information or valuables unless asked for them. If they do demand anything else just hand it over, no possessions are worth your life.
• Remain honest with the hijacker at all times. Hiding information from them may aggravate them and could lead to unnecessary injury.
• Try to pick out details of your hijacker, even though the situation may be stressful.
• Remember to not make eye contact or to aggravate the hijacker in any way but try to take note of features like height, race, age, tattoos or piercings, accent, language and clothing.
• If there are children or babies in the vehicle that the hijacker may not be aware of, let them know.
• Don’t be needlessly brave, either, if the hijackers are armed you could end up not only getting yourself injured but endangering the life of others.
• As soon as the hijacker has left, report the crime immediately by the quickest means possible.
• Inform the police which direction the hijacker was driving, the colour, the make, the model and the registration number on the vehicle.
• Do not stand around waiting, go to the nearest place of safety.