According to the latest crime statistics from January and March 2021, car and truck hi-jackings showed a concerning rise with motor vehicle carjacking increased by 4.9% and the hijacking of trucks increased by a whopping 24.6%.
Some information revealed in the reporting of the latest crime statistics can provide drivers with information that can be used to increase awareness and understanding:
- Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape had the greatest number of hijackings
- Gauteng was number one with 2328 Car hijackings with 206 Truck hijackings
- KwaZulu-Natal was number two with 767 Car hijackings and 21 Truck hijackings
- Western Cape was number three with 600 Car hijackings and 20 trucks hijackings
- The most safest province in RSA was Northern Cape with 6 Car hijackings and 1 truck hijacking
- People are hijacked in CBD areas more often than residential areas, however, the difference between the two is small
- 221 cases reported in Brooklyn GP
- 154 cases reported in Honeydew GP
- 129 cases reported in Sunnyside GP
- 119 cases reported in Berea KZN
- Top 7 places to experience car hijackings in GP
- Brooklyn with 221
- Honeydew with 154
- Sunnyside with 129
- Krugersdorp with 116
- Lyttelton with 110
- Benoni with 108
- Roodeport with 105
- Top 7 places to experience car hijackings in KZN
- Berea with 119
- Durban Central with 113
- Umbilo with 78
- Durban North with 78
- Amanzimtoti with 73
- Phoenix with 68
- Greenwood Park with 62
- Sedans, hatchbacks, panel vans and bakkies are the most commonly hijacked vehicles respectively with trucks also showing increases
If you drive or live in a high risk area be mindful of
- always being aware of who is driving behind you and how long they have been there.
- Never turn into a driveway or an isolated area when the same car has been behind you for some time.
- Take note of the people near your driveway when you leave or arrive and if someone is suspicious call police or your security company rather than drive in or reverse despite your instinct.
- Wait parallel to your driveway while the gate opens.”
A number of other tips are important to keep in mind in shopping centre parking lots:
- reverse park against a wall so that someone cannot come up behind you while you load your shopping bags.
- If the parking lot is empty, ask a security guard to walk you to your car.
- At intersections, pay attention to the people standing around.
- Never block yourself in when you stop at a red light but rather give yourself space to make emergency manoeuvres.
One of the key advise one can give to people with cars especially those under finance, ensure that your insurance cover is up to date so that in the unfortunate event your car is stolen, you are not left with an instalment to pay whilst you don’t have a car.