Car hijackings are on the rise in SA. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay
Crime in SA: Watch out for these new hijacking trends
Criminals are adapting to vehicle technology and have devised more advanced ways to target drivers when hijacking them.
Car hijackings are on the rise in SA. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay
According to the latest data published by the South African Police Service (SAPS), every 25 minutes a vehicle is hijacked in the country.
Furthermore, between January and March 2022, there were 5 402 reported hijackings, most of which happened in the country’s main metros. This is because criminals are becoming more creative and adapting to vehicle technology.
HIJACKERS ARE ADAPTING TO VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
Speaking to eNCA on Tuesday 26 July, Duma Ngcobo who is the chief operating officer for Tracker South Africa revealed that criminals are using key re-programmers and signal grabbers for cars that have a ‘push to start’ button.
“One of the things that has happened, unfortunately – and 2020 was a real game changer – was that the probability that people are ordering stuff to be delivered to their homes has increased significantly.”
As a result, Ngcobo explained that thieves block people’s gates when they waiting outside for their deliveries. This allows them to gain entry into the property and access to vehicles.
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SOME TIPS TO STAY SAFE
People are urged to always be aware of their surroundings, especially during fun and crowded events like sports games and concerts. This is when one is an easy target due to distraction.
Ngcobo also advised people to share their locations throughout their journey, and also take note of cars that are constantly driving behind them as they could be hijackers.
