BusinessTech
While some hijackings are meticulously planned, others are opportunistic, with hijackers taking advantage of being at the right place, at the right time, according to insurer, Dialdirect.
And quarterly data published by the South African Police Service (SAPS) earlier in August showed that they are struggling to deal with violent crimes including murder and hijackings across the country.
The data showed that a total of 5,866 hijackings were reported across the country between April and June 2022 – a 14% increase from the 5,146 hijackings reported over the same period the previous year.
Hijackings are also up quarter-on-quarter, climbing 8.6% from 5,402 cases recorded in Q4 2021/2022. Looking at hijacking trends over the three-month period, there was a sharp jump in May, followed by a decline in June.
Dialdirect has previously cited an interview with a reformed hijacker to garner insights into the world of vehicle theft and hijacking.
The reformed criminal said that a team of four hijackers – often numbed out by alcohol and drugs – can take between 30 to 40 cars per month or five or six cars per day.
Hijackers operate according to their clients’ “shopping list”, which specifies exactly what make and model of car they need, how many they need and when they need it by. When it comes to identifying areas and victims, hijackers will target areas where there’s a higher chance of getting the specific car that they need, without presenting too much risk to themselves.
People on their way back from shopping malls make for ideal targets, as they usually carry cash or cards that could be an added “bonus”. Hijackers will often force their victim to share the PIN to their bank card, sometimes holding them hostage to ensure that the PIN provided is correct, and/or to make multiple withdrawals.
The informant said that in public spaces, hijackers will follow a target at a distance, later moving closer and striking at a traffic light. They often use the strategy of bumping into their victim and making them think that it is an accident to get them to exit their car.
Driveways are also a prime hijacking hotspot, where hijackers typically box in a victim before the access gate is completely open.
Data from Dialdirect highlighted the most common hijacking trends in the country:
To protect yourself against hijackings, the National Hijacking Prevention Academy (NHPA) and Dialdirect provide the following tips:
Read: New hijacking trend to look out for in South Africa
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