Car thieves in South Africa use methods such as physical tampering, signal scanning, and GPS detection applications to determine whether a tracking device is installed in a particular vehicle before they take it.
A tracker is an important anti-theft tool in motorists’ arsenal as it deters criminals from trying to steal a car.
These devices are discreetly hidden within some part of your vehicle and consistently broadcast its location, allowing you and your service provider to keep tabs on where your wheels are at all times.
With over 60 hijackings and 96 thefts taking place in the country per day, trackers have become essential for many car owners to keep their prized possessions safe, and it has become an integral part of many insurance contracts.
In fact, owners of especially high-risk models in South Africa such as the Toyota Hilux, and those living in high-risk areas, are now sometimes required to install multiple tracking devices in their vehicles if they wish to stay within the parameters of their insurance policy.
Last line of defence
Trackers are seen as the last line of defence against these heinous criminals, and while they are difficult to find, it is not impossible for someone who knows what they are doing and has the right tools for the job.
According to major telematics company Catrack, the main method thieves employ to find and disconnect your tracking device remains tampering.
Tampering includes physically looking for and removing the tracker, or cutting wires with the intention of cutting the correct one leading to the location device.
Another technique includes signal jamming.
These scanners detect GPS signals that could indicate that a vehicle is protected by a tracker.
Nefarious smartphone apps are also being employed by robbers on a regular basis.
These apps scan for GPS signals that communicate if a tracker might be in a vehicle, providing the same information they would get from a signal scammer, though far more accessibly.
Signal jammers and tracking apps do not show the exact location of a tracker, per se, but they allow the thieves to make a more informed decision on whether they want to risk attempting to steal that vehicle.
What makes a car attractive to steal
There are many aspects that make your car an appealing target to thieves, as vehicle theft and carjacking are largely driven by supply and demand.
Syndicates operate black market businesses selling affordable, original parts to customers who may not be able to afford buying directly from a manufacturer, or who themselves may be driving questionable cars.
Vehicles such as the Toyota Fortuner and Hilux are therefore mostly stolen for their engines, said Fidelity Services Group.
Conversely, models like the Toyota Corolla Cross and RAV4 are primarily smuggled across the border into neighbouring countries as they are well-suited to handle African roads.
Other, more situational elements also contribute to how attractive your vehicle seems to criminals.
“Poorly lit surroundings, open car doors and windows, and zero security measures draw thieves in like moths to a flame,” said Cartrack.
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