CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 23: Police are seen at the crime scene where five suspects were arrested after a botched hijacking in Grassy Park on May 23, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to SAPS report, the National Intervention Unit members arrested the men, aged between 24 and 36 following a high-speed chase after a briefing about a hijacked vehicle. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais)
Hijackers have developed a new technique to prey on suspecting motorists. Here are some tips avoid being hijacked.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 23: Police are seen at the crime scene where five suspects were arrested after a botched hijacking in Grassy Park on May 23, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to SAPS report, the National Intervention Unit members arrested the men, aged between 24 and 36 following a high-speed chase after a briefing about a hijacked vehicle. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais)
Would be hijackers have found a new way to prey on unsuspecting motorists. This new hijacking method has been called the “tap-tap” method.
This method is often used with a female driver as a decoy. The alleged hijacker will tap the back of your car while in traffic. It is best not to get out of your car right away to assess the damage. Rather drive to a busy and public location to check your car.
Gauteng was recently reported as the province with the highest number of hijackings in 2018. During the 2017/2018 year it was reported that 45 cars were hijacked every day in South Africa.
Hijackers sometimes follow their victims home. If you have been followed,
The car behind you will have to go around you and any potential hijacker would lose any criminal interest.
When stopping make sure you see the back wheels of the car in front of you. This will give you enough space to get out of danger should the worst case happen.
Ideally, the safest option would be having a remote controlled gate that you could open safely from inside your car. Many people still make use of a manual gate.
Unless there is a child in the car, leave the car engine running with the keys in the ignition. All while you manually open your gate.
If you find that you are being hijacked there are some tips that might help you.
Don’t antagonise the hijacker by losing your temper, threatening or challenging the hijacker. In most cases, hijackers just want to get the car and go.
Most hijackers will consider making eye contact as a threat. Making eye contact might also let the hijackers know that you’re trying to remember their features and they might retaliate.
Don’t resist the hijacker, especially if they have a weapon. Calmly comply with their orders.
If stopped by a hijacker, lift up your arms. This shows you have no weapon and that you surrender. In addition, keep your hands where the hijacker can see them at all times. This will show that you are not a threat.
No matter how tempting it may be, don’t quickly reach for the valuable items in your car. Don’t make any sudden movements. The hijacker might see this as a threat and retaliate.
Without posing a threat, try to make as many mental notes about the hijackers as possible. For example; what were they wearing? How many were there? From which direction did they come from? Which direction did they run? How many weapons were there? And what kind of weapons were they?