Fidelity ADT has warned homeowners that criminals are eyeing homes in South Africa to target items such as gas bottles, gate motors, tyres, and rims.
In a series of alerts, Fidelity ADT said that branches had received recent reports indicating a crime trend where opportunistic thieves are entering yards or jumping over fences to steal gas battles, irrespective of the size.
The security group added that this trend has especially been noted in Ballito and Stanger, with several reported incidents in the Glen Hills area over the past week.
Another notable target—specifically in Gauteng—is the theft of gate motors.
The group said stolen gate motors are either stripped down and their various components (batteries, gearboxes, etc.) sold individually, or they are sold as complete units to unsuspecting homeowners by these “access automation bandits”, as they are often referred to.
It added there is also a worrying trend of suspects deactivating the gate motor and accessing the property while on manual override.
Once gaining access, the criminals (along with gas bottles) are also after the tyres and rims of cars in the driveway or yard.
“Within the Fidelity ADT footprint, there is a growing trend where suspects are stealing tyres from cars parked in yards during the night.
“The suspects sneak in, remove the tyres, throw them over the wall, and leave,” it said.
The security group added that the criminals typically scout the area during the day, sometimes even poisoning dogs, and then return later to steal what they want.
“This is not a random act. We urge all residents not to become complacent about their perimeter security,” the group said.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant and not to leave anything to chance. If you see anything suspicious in or around your neighbourhood, report it immediately to your private security company and local SAPS.”
Break-ins on the rise
According to the SAPS’ crime statistics for the third quarter of 2023/24, burglaries at residential premises decreased by 4.4% year-on-year. However, compared to the second quarter of 2023, burglaries at residential premises increased by 6.8%.
Additionally, although robberies with aggravated circumstances at houses increased by only 1.7% compared to the previous year, they were up almost 5.2% from the second quarter.
This shows an increasing trend for both break-ins and robberies in South Africa.
Data captured at police stations across the country recorded 40,751 cases of home burglaries between October and December 2023—roughly 453 incidents a day.
Meanwhile, the SAPS recorded 6,360 house robberies over the same period – or 71 every day.
THESE are the most commonly stolen car parts in South Africa
Protect yourself and your vehicle against the theft of these most stolen car parts in South Africa. Some of these items will surprise you …
You might be surprised to see which are the most stolen car parts in South Africa. Image: File/Fotor
It’s common knowledge that Mzansi is battling a vehicle hijacking epidemic, but did you know there’s a multi-million-Rand for blackmarket stolen car parts in South Africa, too? As The South African has already reported, vehicle hijackings are endemic to Mzansi, with SAPS reporting 5 511 cars hijacked/stolen in the last three months. Do that math and you work out that’s 1 800 per month, or 60 per day!
With most cars destined for smuggling across the Mozambique or Zimbabwe border, there is just as much demand for individual stolen car parts in South Africa. A recent report from TopAuto found these are most pilfered car parts by Mzansi’s criminals …
MOST STOLEN CAR PARTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
According to a Cartrack report, bakkie tailgates, (un-deployed) airbags, vehicle batteries, tow hitches, wheels and tyres are the most commonly stolen car parts in South Africa. Theft of these individual components – unlike hijackings – stays within SA’s borders. And in terms of sheer volume, stolen car parts in South Africa are higher because it’s easier to hide the goods and harder to trace than an entire vehicle.
Cartrack says there is big demand for cheap, readily available parts on the black market. Local chop shops are a R442-million per year industry. In fact, reselling car parts striped from a vehicle is seen as better business by many in the trade. Simply because it’s less traceable than hiding, smuggling and reselling an enitre stolen vehicle.
SEASONED THIEVES AT WORK
That is why you need to take care against seasoned thieves for whom this type of work is easy. Cartrack says professional thieves can remove all four wheels from your car in just five minutes. Grabbing a bakkie tailgate is done in just two minutes. This sells for as much as R2 500 on the black market, therefore making it highly sought-after.
That’s roughly the same time it takes to steal your vehicle battery, rendering your car immobile. If you’ve had to buy a new replacement battery lately, you’ll know just how expensive they are. So, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your ride against part thieves in South Africa:
- Fit a sturdy, lockable canopy to protect your bakkie’s tailgate.
- Equip your wheels with locknuts.
- Fit extra reinforcement to your battery bracket.
- Always park in a busy, visible and well-lit area.
- Double-check that your vehicle is locked when you leave it.
- Stash valuables out of sight.
- Avoid driving through high-risk areas and known hijacking hotspots.
- Never connect to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks from your car.
- Don’t be lured out of your car for any reason.
- Fit your vehicle with a GPS tracker so it can be located in the event of theft/hijacking.
Source: Affluencer & The South African