Hijackings are fast becoming the “norm” in South Africa, with motorists treating every trip as a high-risk mission. Throughout the years car manufacturers have set out to improve their vehicles’ security, providing customers with sophisticated security solutions. This advancement and focus towards personal safety may be a great sales pitch for the car company, but the customer needs to take it with a pinch of salt.
You see, the sophisticated security solutions, breeds more aggressive car theft strategies. In South Africa and perhaps around the world, it is easier to hijack a vehicle rather than attempt to steal it, as the vehicle is now considered easily accessible.
Why are vehicles being hijacked?
Hijackings are typically linked to syndicate action. According to TopAuto, there are specific makes and models of vehicles that are being targeted by hijackers due to their high demand on the black market. Therefore, it’s vital that potential car owners are made aware of which vehicles are considered high-risk vehicles for hijackings.
The list of popular vehicles include:
- VW Polo
- Ford Ranger
- Nissan NP200
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Toyota Hilux GD-6 and D-4D
- Toyota Fortuner GD-6 and D-4D
Where are hijacking hotspots?
According to the SAFPS quarterly crime statistics from October to December 2023, there is a noticeable increase in hijackings in three high-population provinces such as, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Within these provinces are top hijacking hotspots that should be entered to with extreme caution:
- Gauteng: Ivory Park, Moroka, Loate, Orange Farms, and Eldorado Park
- KwaZulu-Natal: Umlazi and Mariannhill
- Western Cape: Philippi East, Harare, Nyanga, Mfuleni, and Delft
How to avoid a hijacking situation
There is always a risk that you could fall victim to a hijacker. However, there are steps you can take to minimise the chances of you being hijacked, these steps are:
- Approaching your home or business with caution: When approaching your home or business, you must remain vigilant of your surroundings. Are there any people walking close to your vehicle or the gate? Do they appear suspicious? Is there a car close behind you? Do they appear to be following you? If you’ve answered yes to any of these mental questions, you can either take a lap or two around the block to confirm your suspicions, or you can go straight to your nearest police station.
- Keeping the driveway clear: Having large or overgrown shrubbery next to the gate or having a poorly lit driveway can encourage hijackers to target your vehicle as they can be easily concealed. Be sure to cut back on the shrubbery and install bright lights to illuminate the driveway.
- Opening a gate with an exit strategy: Park horizontally to the gate or driveway when using a remote, this provides you with a quick getaway option and makes it difficult for hijackers to box you in. If the gate requires you to leave your vehicle, do so whilst leaving your ignition on, this allows the hijacker to take the car easily without having to harm you in the process.
- Check your vehicle for signs of tampering: Always do a quick “depart mental checklist” of your vehicle before you go anywhere. You should ask yourself the following questions; Are there any strange objects around your vehicle? Were you followed into the parking lot? Is there anything underneath your vehicle? If you’ve answered yes, then walk back into the building to call for security as your vehicle may have been targeted.
- Practice safe driving behaviour at all times: When in your vehicle, always keep your doors locked and your windows closed, especially when in traffic or at intersections. Be sure to leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you, in case you need to make a quick get away. Most importantly, DO NOT pick up hitch-hikers or provide a lift to strangers.
- Avoid debris in the road: Some hijacking strategies include placing debris in the middle of the road to force vehicles to slow down, stop, or initially hit the debris to immobilise the vehicle. To avoid this, we recommend navigating around the debris (do not hit or drive over it) or divert to a safer route.
Personal safety measures that matter
As a fleet manager, personal safety for your drivers should be a number one priority. You can do this through education, taking them through the importance of personal safety on the road, and by providing them with various tools to safeguard themselves whilst off premises. However, you can also invest in fleet tracking solutions that help you stay in-the-know as to where your drivers are, provide “no-go” zones with geofencing, and give them access to emergency assistance when needed.
How we can help
At Landmark Tracking, we provide fleet managers tailor-made and easy access fleet tracking solutions that can help them monitor their fleet in real-time and on any device. Safeguard your fleet with a top-tier fleet tracking solution today!
