At least one car a day is stolen in eMalahleni

For those who have been through it, there is nothing worse than coming out of a shop, restaurant, or school and having that sinking feeling that your car is not where you left it and has been stolen.

Sadly, according to the official SAPS crime statistics for eMalahleni, at least one person a day will know what it feels like to have their car stolen or hijacked.

The statistics show that during the April and May, 40 cars have been stolen and there have been 21 hijackings in eMalahleni so far. Between April last year and April 2024, 243 cars were stolen and 174 hijacked.

“One vehicle a day is lost in eMalahleni, and these vehicles are hardly ever recovered or found unless the owner had a decent tracking device and the tracking company reacted swiftly. Unfortunately, with vehicle theft, you usually only notice your vehicle is gone by the time you have finished your activity like eating at a restaurant, and by then your vehicle is long gone and tracking devices removed or jammed. The only way to prevent your vehicle from being stolen is to remain one step ahead of the criminals, which is not always easy,” said spokesperson of Witbank Police, Captain Eddie Hall.

Criminals become more creative

All the fancy gadgets and technology new cars are coming out with might actually be making it easier for your vehicle to be stolen while you are happily going about your tasks, thinking that all the high-end tech is protecting you.

Car thieves like Toyota vehicles

With the most hijacked vehicles in the country usually being Toyota vehicles.

Toyota has even started developing and implementing anti-theft technology specifically designed for South Africa.

Keyless access to vehicles seems to be the main contributor to the increase in car theft, as this system is incredibly easy for criminals to block and bypass – and they have all the skills and tools to do it.

Some criminals are even able to track vehicles they are interested in to their exact location, using the car’s onboard WiFi and GPS systems.

Criminals can log into your car and access all the data

 

Every step forward that car manufacturers make in preventing car theft with more advanced technology seems to just create a stepping stone for criminals to become more creative with their thievery.

By now all vehicle owners should know the basics of preventing their car from being stolen like ensuring their doors are locked, not leaving anything valuable in- sight, parking in safe, well-lit areas, having a decent car alarm, tracking device and the list goes on and on, yet cars are still being stolen.

Do not get too comfortable thinking the place you are visiting with your vehicle is secure.

No amount of car guards, fences, boom gates, security guards, CCTV cameras or access control seems to be halting the car theft crime wave being experienced in eMalahleni.

As much as we rely on technology and the latest and greatest software to protect and prevent their vehicle from being stolen, sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective – get a regular, run-of-the-mill steering lock or gear lock device.

“Steering lock and gear lock devices are still one of the biggest deterrents when it comes to a criminal choosing which vehicle to steal. They would much rather go for an easier target that will draw less attention, as it takes time for them to cut off these devices, which usually draws attention. Criminals are also not walking around with bolt-cutters anymore as it is a dead giveaway that they are planning something nefarious, ” advised the communication manager of Fidelity ADT Services, Charnel Hattingh.

 

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