Hijackings are on the rise in South Africa, and certain areas are worse affected than others.
A report compiled using data from the South African Police Services (SAPS) identified 12 locations across three of the country’s most populated provinces where there is a high risk of vehicle-related crimes.
Areas to be aware of
The latest crime statistics released by the SAPS for quarter three of the 2023/2024 period showed that Gauteng and the Western Cape have been hit the hardest by an increase in vehicle crime, as hijackings were up 14% and 11% for each province, respectively.
On the other hand, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape actually dropped by 17.6% and 5.2%, though the former still has two of the most dangerous areas associated with car theft.
Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KZN are the three most populated provinces in South Africa, which typically corresponds with more severe crime statistics.
Consumer advice company MotorHappy recently published a report identifying the most high-risk suburbs in each of these three provinces, revealing that Gauteng and the Western Cape have five areas of concern each while KZN has two, for a total of 12 listed hijacking hotspots.
The areas outlined comprise:
Gauteng
- Eldorado Park
- Ivory Park
- Loate
- Moroka
- Orange Farms
KwaZulu-Natal
- Mariannhill
- Umlazi
Western Cape
- Delft
- Harare
- Mfuleni
- Nyanga
- Philippi East
It is important to note that the vast majority of hijackings occur within close proximity to a victim’s house, with 71% of reported cases taking place when a person was pulling into their driveway.
Other locations that are a popular targets for car theft include school and sporting events, as well as shopping centres.
However, criminals are also becoming more brazen in their attempts, as many are now going after cars as they enter an on-ramp or off-ramp for a freeway.
Hijackers use this method as there is very little room for a victim to maneuver to try and escape, and these sections of road are not typically monitored by cameras, which are an effective deterrent to most illegal activities, according to the National Community Police Board of South Africa.
Petrol stations are another hotspot for hijackings, smash-and-grabs, and ATM robberies as they are seen as easy pickings, though the prevalence of cameras at these stops is often enough to deter small-time thieves.
Motorists should be aware that hijackers do not act on the spur of the moment, as they are organized and tend to tail their targets while blending in with the surrounding traffic.
They will typically follow the intended victim at a distance of around 100 metres so as not to arouse suspicion, before jumping the person once they reach their destination such as a mall or their house’s driveway.
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