There has been a steady increase in the number of cars being stripped for parts in South Africa due to the high prices these items can fetch on the black market.
Insurance providers and car tracking companies have warned that 10 components are being targeted by the nation’s criminals, and that part theft is an even bigger problem than hijackings or stolen vehicles.
What’s being targeted
As many as 66 cars are hijacked every day in South Africa – a 34% increase from pre-pandemic levels – and it is believed that the demand for parts on the black market is a big contributor to this rise in illegal activity.
While the theft and smuggling of cars across the country’s borders into neighbouring regions like Mozambique and eSwatini is a huge problem, car security company CarTrack commented that the theft of components has become more widespread than the theft of entire vehicles.
There is a high demand for readily available and affordable parts across the nation, and criminals see the theft of individual items as a safer way to make money as it is much harder for the authorities to trace separate components instead of whole cars.
It is also much easier to sell smaller items to unscrupulous merchants, leading to a faster turnaround time for these activities.
Toyota RAV4 wheels stolen in Joburg. Source: Honeydew Community Policing Forum
Cartrack noted that five different components are most commonly stolen in South Africa, including:
- Airbags
- Batteries
- Tailgates
- Tyres
- Wheel rims
Sometimes, a whole vehicle is stolen to be stripped for parts, while at other times, criminals will target a model in a public location and pull off whatever components they can get their hands on as quickly as possible.
South Africa’s car thieves have demonstrated that they are capable of removing all four wheels in under five minutes, disconnecting the airbags and tailgate in less than two minutes, and lifting the battery in a single minute.
Second-hand bakkie tailgates are a hot item at the moment, as prices for the backends appear to start at around R2,500 in illicit trading circles, said the car tracking company.
The value of the illegal car part trade is estimated to be worth around R442 million, illustrating how lucrative it can be for those who engage in the practice.
It is not only street thieves who partake, either, as illegal chop shops and dishonest mechanics are also taking advantage of motorists.
A common practice is to steal or replace items with cheap or faulty ones when a person brings their car in for a service, hoping that the owner won’t realize something is wrong until it is too late.
A spokesperson from MiWay Insurance, Siyakha Masiye, recently spoke on Cape Talk about the issue, highlighting another five parts that are at risk from criminals, including:
- Headlights
- Side mirrors
- Sound equipment
- Wheel caps
- Wiper blades
Masiye commented that certain items are targeted because they are unique to specific models and can be expensive or time-consuming to replace by going through the manufacturer.
For example, the side mirrors of a BMW or Audi may be stolen because there is a high demand for parts for these brands on the black market.
It is for this same reason that certain vehicle makes and models are more commonly targeted than others as thieves try to cater to demand.
Volkswagen’s cars, particularly the Polo and Polo Vivo, are frequently prioritized for their headlights, grilles, and bumpers, while the Toyota Hilux is often stripped for its engine which fits into a variety of other vehicles, like Toyota Hiace taxis.
JMPD VW Polo headlights stolen. Source: CrimeInSA
To try and prevent the theft of these key modules, MiWay recommends that motorists do the following:
- Keep valuables out of sight.
- Reinforce your battery bracket.
- Equip your wheels with locknuts.
- Always park in busy, visible, and well-lit areas.
- Double-check that your vehicle is locked when you leave it.
- Never connect to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks from your car.
- Stay vigilant, and do not be lured out of your car for any reason.
- Avoid driving through high-risk areas and known hijacking hotspots.
- Install a GPS tracker so your vehicle can be located if stolen or hijacked.
South Africa’s carmakers are aware of the issues being faced by owners and are actively looking at methods to curtail part theft, such as making changes to their manufacturing and supply divisions.
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