Over the course of last year and the first half of 2024, security groups and insurers have highlighted that hijackings are on the rise, and bright or unusual colours are no longer a deterrent.

Fidelity ADT confirmed that within the Fidelity footprint, the number of hijackings recorded during the first half of 2024 increased compared to the corresponding periods during 2023 and the second half of 2023.

According to data from the South African Police Services (SAPS), there are 66 reported car hijackings every day, marking a significant 34% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The statistics show that approximately half of these incidents take place in Gauteng, while the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal each account for about 14% of the total.

It’s important to highlight that these statistics only cover hijackings involving violence or coercion against the driver.

The data reveals that there are approximately 10,000 vehicle thefts reported per quarter, which amounts to about 40,000 thefts annually.

This information sheds light on the concerning issue of car-related crimes in South Africa.

Vehicle hijackings are often described as largely a business driven by demand and supply. As a result, hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market.

Within the Fidelity footprint, these are the top five vehicles currently being targeted:

• White Nissan Almera
• White VW Polo
• White Toyota Hi-Ace
• White Nissan NP200
• Grey/blue/white Toyota Corolla

In the recent past, white and silver vehicles were most often targeted, as per the black market’s demand, which often reflects the mainstream market trends.

However, there has been an increased demand for non-traditional coloured vehicles on the road.

As a result, vehicles with non-traditional colours, including orange and yellow, have started being targeted more regularly.

Traditionally, bright-coloured cars were considered unpopular among hijackers as they stood out easily compared with silver or white cars, making them harder to hide from tracking companies and the authorities.

However, Cartrack, a prominent car-tracking company, said the theft of car components has become more widespread than the theft of entire vehicles.

It said the high demand for affordable, readily available parts on the black market drives this trend, as these parts are easier to conceal and harder to trace than whole cars.

This could explain why colour isn’t much of a deterrent anymore.

This is because experienced syndicates with designated chop shops can dismantle any car in minutes.

Cartrack noted criminals steal vehicle components effortlessly, with four wheels capable of being removed in five minutes, airbags and tailgates in two minutes, and a battery disconnected in as little as one minute.

The tracking company noted that airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels, and tyres are among the most stolen parts.

Cartrack reported incidents of stolen vehicles that were later found completely stripped, indicating the lucrative trade value of illegal chop shops and stolen car parts, which has been estimated at about R442 million.

This unlawful practice is seen as a quicker and more profitable alternative to reselling stolen vehicles.

Tracker has commented on the latest hijacking hotspots, stating that while shopping malls are still a primary hotspot for thefts in South Africa, their data also shows that sporting and school events are primary hunting grounds for hijackings and car thefts across the country.

Source: BusinessTech 

With about 66 cars hijacked a day, many insurers now insist that certain vehicles have tracking devices installed before granting cover.

Car hijackings have been on the rise since 2020. According to Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index, hijackings accounted for 55% of all vehicle crime incidents.

The latest SAPS crime statistics show there were 5 973 carjackings in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“This equates to about 66 cars being hijacked per day, which represents an increase of 34% over pre-pandemic levels,” says Marius Kemp, head of Personal Lines Insurance at Santam.

Gauteng is the worst region in South Africa for this type of crime. Of the almost 6 000 cars hijacked in the fourth quarter of 2023, half (3 010, or 50.4%) were from Gauteng. The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were the next worst-hit provinces, at about 14% each.

“These statistics are only for hijackings, involving some sort of violence or coercion against the driver. Total vehicle thefts are around 10 000 per quarter, or about 40 000 annually,” Kemp says.

A hijacking trend highlighted in the 2022/23 Santam Insurance Barometer Report showed there has been a shift from older, low-value vehicles with limited security features to more expensive double cabs and SUVs.

“The hi-tech features on newer, higher-end cars often aren’t the deterrent one would think. For example, cars with keyless entry have become specific targets for criminals, who are able to intercept the signal coming from the driver’s remote,” Kemp says.

Facing a post-pandemic spike in car theft claims, insurance companies, including Santam, have introduced mandatory hijacking and theft countermeasures.

Santam says these measures proved effective. The short-term insurer’s personal lines hijacking claims were down by 24% in the first half of 2023, and vehicle theft claims were down by 19%.

Kemp says having a tracking device won’t prevent a car from being stolen, but will, in most cases, ensure a rapid recovery. He adds that even if a vehicle owner isn’t compelled to by an insurer, consumers and businesses should consider the substantial benefits these devices offer.

Apart from the high chance of recovery, Santam lists the following benefits of installing a tracking device:

• Reduction in insurance premiums. “The reduction will depend on your risk profile, type of vehicle and where you live, but all other things being equal, a car owner with a tracking device will pay a lower premium each month than a car owner without one,” Kemp says. “In some cases, the monthly discount on the premium will be higher than the monthly cost of the device.”
• Less downtime. Quick recoveries mean that in many cases, consumers and businesses are not left stranded without transportation for long periods.
• Roadside assistance. The tracking subscription may include a roadside assistance service in the event of a breakdown, although insurers generally offer this service on vehicle policies whether there is a tracking device or not.
• Additional features and services. Depending on the option, the service may include app-based tracking in real time, a trip logbook and, for businesses, fleet management.

“The more South Africans can be proactive in thwarting criminals, the more we can bring down the crime levels in our country, and one way to do that is by installing a tracking device in your car,” Kemp states.

Source: Moonstone

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned Gauteng motorists that criminals are taking advantage of non-operating traffic lights plaguing the roads to steal valuables from cars caught in the traffic.

Despite a recent break-in load-shedding, many areas within the City of Johannesburg are currently plagued with non-functioning traffic lights.

This has led to an accumulation of traffic at these intersections, causing severe congestion that can last for hours.

The resulting traffic delays have created a perfect opportunity for criminals to carry out smash-and-grab incidents, leaving many motorists feeling vulnerable and unsafe.

According to Gauteng law enforcement, thieves disguise themselves as beggars or vendors, scout vehicles in traffic for accessible personal belongings, and strike at the first opportunity.

Additionally, Security experts noted that traffic lights across the country remain a hotspot for hijackings and cautioned South African motorists to stay alert while filling up, note their surroundings and suspicious characters in the area, and keep their doors locked.

Areas flagged by law enforcement for these crimes include:

• Alexandra
• Beyers Naude Drive
• Crown Interchange
• Diepsloot
• Johannesburg CBD
• Malibongwe Drive
• Midrand
• Moroka (Soweto)
• Orange Farm
• Randburg

The recent spate of smash-and-grab incidents has followed another similar one that recently occurred on the M1 freeway in Johannesburg.

During the rush hour traffic on the M1-M2 freeway split, a group of armed robbers took advantage of the gridlock traffic and robbed several motorists at gunpoint.

The motorists had nowhere to go and were forced to surrender their valuables, including cell phones.

According to reports, the criminals behind this act are believed to be part of illegal mining operations in the area.

This incident has raised concerns about the safety of people who commute on the highways in Gauteng during peak-hour traffic.

In response to the incident, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has ordered a maximum mobilisation of officers along Gauteng highways and other strategic locations during peak hours to avoid such incidents in the future.

The SAPS Highway Patrol, SAPS Airwing, and Gauteng Flying Squad units have also been assigned to conduct regular patrols on routes identified as high-risk.

This move by the SAPS aims to ensure the safety of commuters and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Speaking to eNCA, the spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Xolani Fihla, said the increased police patrols on dangerous roads have yielded both positive and negative results.

While minor crimes have decreased, the JMPD has noticed an increase in serious vehicle-related crimes.

Fihla stated that smash-and-grab incidents have reduced, but crimes like robberies with aggravating circumstances have increased.

The JMPD advises motorists to remain vigilant on the road and report any crimes they witness to help the authorities catch the thieves.

Source: Affluencer

There has been a notable increase in the number of reported cases of criminals placing spikes or objects on public roads with the intention of robbing them, especially in and around Pretoria.

Speaking to eNCA, Crime Watch’s Yusuf Abramjee noted that the reports of these criminal tactics have increased over the past few months despite the modus operandi being a concern in South Africa for some time.

Although spiking attempts can happen anytime, they are more likely to occur after dark. The perpetrators take advantage of the darkness to hide the hazards from unsuspecting drivers until it’s too late for them to brake or avoid the spikes.

The main objective of these criminals is to damage a vehicle, particularly its tyres, causing the driver to pull over and assess the situation. These criminals mainly use spikes made from nails and wood or big stones and other objects.

Once the driver pulls over, they are vulnerable to robbery and may lose their possessions.

Abramjee highlighted that the notable hotspots for spiking at the moment are the N4 from Pretoria to Rustenburg and the N4 on the way to Mpumalanga.

This seems to correlate to the hotspots registered by the Gauteng Traffic Police, which identified the following as spiking hotspots:

• N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp.
• N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp.
• N1 Polokwane N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria.
• N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane Freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate.
• Golden Highway.
• R21 Freeway from OR Tambo International Airport to Pretoria.
• R562 in Olifantsfontein
• N12 in Witbank, under the Merridale bridge
• N12 between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom
• N3 between Leondale and Barry Marais Road
• N17 between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road

Abramjee added that incidents have been reported on secondary adjacent roads in and around those areas.

The Gauteng Traffic Police added these criminals move from one area to the other, where the roads are quiet, to rob motorists of their hard-earned cash and other belongings.

“These incidents happen especially on Friday evenings and throughout the weekend between 18h00 and 04h00 in the morning,” said the Traffic Police.

It has also been noted that spiking cases tend to rise over the weekend on quiet stretches of road, as this increases the odds of the criminals catching a lone vehicle unawares.

Due to the low visibility and high speeds at which they occur, the nature of the crime makes it quite difficult to completely safeguard oneself from the criminals.

However, MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert has provided a few methods with which motorists can reduce their risk on the roads and increase their chances of avoiding the horrid situation.

These include:

• Avoid driving over anything on the road, including plastic bags
• When passing under a bridge, change lanes just before you pass
• Reduce your speed to increase your chances of seeing obstacles on the road
• Concrete lintels are being used as well. If you cannot avoid them any other way, slow down and carefully drive over them
• If the circumstances allow, travel straddling two lanes, as it may help you miss spikes being placed in the lane
• If there is another vehicle present, drive six seconds or more behind so their driving can alert you if anything is amiss
• If you spot an obstacle before you reach it, move into the emergency lane or onto the grass if that section of the highway allows for it

If the unfortunate happens and you do hit a spike, reduce your speed to approximately 30-40km/h and continue driving to the nearest place of safety instead of stopping immediately.

“If you do not make it to a place of safety but do obtain some distance between yourself and the criminals, get out of your car and safely find a place to conceal yourself and call for help,” said Herbert.

Source: Business Tech

Hijackers in South Africa commonly target Fords, Nissans, Toyotas, and VWs, which are in high demand on the black market across the continent.

This is according to Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann, who told BusinessTech earlier this year that vehicle hijackings are largely a business driven by demand and supply.

For example, While these models have historically been at high risk, the RAV 4 and Toyota Corolla Cross have climbed the high-risk scale, with the Corolla Cross only having been launched in the country in November 2021.

Since then, the crossover has consistently been on the best-selling lists over the course of 2023/24 – selling over 22,000 and earning fourth place on Naamsa’s top 10 list of best-selling cars last year.

It has remained within the top five through most of the first half of 2024. This remains true for other Toyoas (such as the Hilux), VWs (Polos), and Fords (the Ranger).

“Hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market. The demand for Toyotas, VWs, Fords, and Nissans remains high on the black market,” he said.

As a result, Bartmann highlighted the most hijacked cars among these brands – based on the Fidelity SecureDrive base for 2023.

According to Fidelity’s latest data, the seven most high-risk models, in no specific order, are:

• Toyota Fortuner (GD6 and D4D);
• Toyota Hilux (GD6 and D4D);
• Toyota Corolla Cross;
• Toyota RAV 4;
• VW Polo (especially hatchbacks);
• Nissan NP200; and
• Ford Ranger (both double and single cabs).

It has been reported that the Fortuner and Hilux vehicles are stolen mostly for their engines, while the Corolla Cross and RAV4 are primarily taken across the border into neighbouring countries.

This is because these vehicles are well-equipped to handle African roads. Evidence of interest in cars that can manage the harsh road conditions in Africa by criminals was also mentioned by insurer Santam.

Its report noted a shift away from older, low-value vehicles with limited security requirements to more expensive double cabs and SUVs, including Toyota Landcruisers and Prados.

This aligned with the experiences of private security companies such as Fidelity ADT.

According to Fidelity, around 30% of all stolen and hijacked vehicles in the last year were taken across the border from South Africa.

Hotspot areas

In South Africa, the number of car hijackings has been increasing every year, with some provinces experiencing a greater rise in hijackings than others.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently presented the latest quarterly crime statistics from October to December 2023.

According to the report, 5,973 cars were hijacked during this three-month period, equivalent to approximately 66 cars being stolen daily.

This figure represents a 6.5% increase from the same period in 2022.

Carjackings are most common in South Africa’s most populated regions, such as Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, and the Western Cape.

The top hijacking hotspots for the three most populated provinces are listed below.

Gauteng:

1. Ivory Park
2. Moroka
3. Loate
4. Orange Farms
5. Eldorado Park

Kwa-Zulu Natal:

1. Umlazi
2. Mariannhill

Western Cape:

1. Philippi East
2. Harare
3. Nyanga
4. Mfuleni
5. Delft

Source: BusinessTech

With the festive season fast approaching, this is historically the busiest time of the year for both syndicates and opportunistic criminals.

As hijackers continue to adopt new deceptive tactics, consumers need to raise self-awareness and become more vigilant during this time. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), 5 488 cars were hijacked during the second quarter of 2023, with an estimated 60 carjackings reported each day (up from 57 cars per day in Q1 2023).

According to Youlon Naidoo, Executive Head: Claims and Procurement at MiWay Insurance, of all the methods carjackers use, the most common place of attack is still right outside the motorist’s home – in the driveway. He says that despite your home being commonly considered a ‘safe place’, it has become the most targeted.

“In addition, according to recently released statistics by Crime SA, an estimated 71% of South African car hijackings occur in residential driveways. Our internal data further reveals that most hijackings take place within a five-kilometer radius, mainly between 6pm and 9pm, and that they rarely occur in the morning.”

Here are some of the safety tips from Naidoo to help South African motorists be extra vigilant when arriving home:

Make sure no one is following you when driving home

Hijackers are constantly attempting new tactics, so car owners also need to be smarter and stay a step ahead by being constantly aware of their surroundings. Whether leaving the shopping mall or the airport – both being commonly targeted areas – keep an eye on your rearview mirror to ensure that no one is tracking your route. Regardless of the make, model or the colour of the vehicle, always stay vigilant.

Alternate your route home

Changing your daily route from your original route when heading home may be wise. Attackers are more likely to learn your travel patterns and follow you home when using the exact same route daily.

Know your nearest police station

If it looks as though you are being followed or should you feel uncomfortable, do not drive home, instead head to your nearest police station. Having an escape route planned will help to distract criminals and alert them that you have spotted their unusual actions.

Times are erratic during this season

Our movements and behaviours change from our usual routines over the festive season. Whatever the time, when arriving home, do not open your gate and pull into your driveway if there is a car behind you. Instead drive around the block to see if you can lose the car, or stop parallel to your gate, which will allow you to make a quick getaway should the trailing vehicle slow down. Always make sure that you always observe your full surroundings look forward, backwards and sideways.

Insurance cover is critical to recover from a hijacking

According to an article by Auto Pedigree, it is estimated that 65 – 70% of the approximately 12 million vehicles on the road are uninsured. This insurance gap is massive. For these motorists, it means there is no chance of replacing a vehicle if it is not recovered by the police or a tracking company.

Naidoo concludes by stating, “Insurance is there to help place you back in the position you were in before an unfortunate event occurred. To help minimise the financial fall-out from such incidents, especially during what is supposed to be a family-focused and stress-free time of year, make sure you are well covered against unforeseen acts of crime.”

For this reason, in any event that you feel at risk or in danger, MiWay offers a value-added product – MiGuard – which serves as a personal armed security response service. The use of the MiWay App enables you to press the panic button at any time you need to signal an armed guard and MiWay will send one to your location immediately. We have access to over 3 000-armed reaction teams nationally.

Source: FA News