With traffic growing daily on our South African roads as South Africans head back to work after the festive season, motorists must be extra vigilant for any hijacking hot spots. Hijacking must surely be one of the most horrible events to experience in one’s life. It’s good to know more about which cars are the most hijacked in South Africa.1
Recent police update on hijackings in South Africa1
A mid-August report indicated that hijackings rose by 92.2% from April 2021 to 30 June 2021, compared to last year’s same time window.
What were the statistics before the start of the pandemic? 1
From April 2019 to March 2020, 5 245 hatchbacks or sedans were hijacked. Q1 of 2021 saw 1 839 sedans or hatchbacks carjacked, apart from 239 SUVs.
What about bakkies? 1
Bakkies were the second-most frequently hijacked vehicle type, with 2 200 disappearing from April 2019 to March 2020. In Q1 of 2021, over 1 000 bakkies/panel vans were hijacked.
Where were the most hijackings? 1
Gauteng experienced 9 025 cases between April 2019 and March 2020, which is triple the number recorded in KwaZulu-Natal.
Hijackers are becoming more daring1
This was the observation in August 2021 by a vehicle-tracking company called Tracker. According to a company spokesperson, hijackings exceed vehicles theft, in a ratio of 54:46%. More hijackings may be due to opportunistic criminals—hijackers specially targeted vehicles carrying consumable goods.
Motorists with much cash are being targeted1
South African motorists need to become more streetwise and realise that they are in a war. After drawing large amounts of cash at an ATM, they must stay alert to see if anyone is following them, especially when going home. The horrible part of hijackings is that they are often violent, with a hostage sometimes taken.
Signal-jamming is everywhere1
The security firm Fidelity ADT reported that signal-jamming incidents are occurring everywhere, especially in shopping mall parking lots.
Which cars are seen as ‘high-risk’? 1
‘High risk’ cars or vehicles are generally popular targets of hijackers. The following ‘high-risk’ cars should also be fitted with a tracker unit: VW Polo sedan, VW Polo hatchback, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Etios, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Hilux, and the Ford Ranger.
When are hijackings most likely to occur? 1
Hijackings occur most frequently between 18h00 and 21h00 on a Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, or between 21h00 and midnight on a Friday or Saturday night.
What could you do? 1
Motorists should drive with a constant awareness of this hijacking scourge. This is their first line of defence, spotting unusual human activity such as a car following you all the way home or groups of people in or near your driveway. In addition, you may notice something strange at a traffic light, intersection or in a parking lot.
Disclaimer
Please note, this article can only be a source of information. Please consult a registered financial service provider for more information before buying any car insurance product.
Even though it is not a comforting topic to read, South African motorists should be alerted to this criminal practice on our roads. Car insurance is critical, especially in the light of this article. If you have just purchased a new car, the law requires you to obtain comprehensive car insurance if a bank finances the vehicle. Contact Prime South Africa for affordable, comprehensive car insurance with exceptional benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce to zero excess*. T and Cs apply.
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