Old Mutual Insure has warned owners of new and high-end vehicles, particularly bakkies and luxury cars, to be extra vigilant when out in the public due to the insurer witnessing a sharp increase in claims for the theft and hijacking of these models.
“From our investigations, it appears that syndicates have found ways to seamlessly access vehicles with keyless entry systems. The theft rate is particularly high in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and some of our smaller inland provinces,” said Tarina Vlok, MD of Elite Risk, an Old Mutual subsidiary.
“Although it seems like traditional tracking devices are becoming less effective, they still assist in mitigating the risk as they do provide an advantage in the early stages of theft and hijacking.”
In light of this, select insurers such as Old Mutual has now made it a requirement to fit approved early warning/active tracking devices on high-risk vehicles under certain contracts, and customers who do not comply will no longer be insured against theft and hijacking, said Vlok.
The insurer also urges motorists to be proactive in mitigating risks by following additional measures.
These include:
- Using a traditional steering wheel lock
- Installing an alarm system or immobilizer
- Fitting more than one tracking device into the vehicle
- Parking in well-lit, busy areas away from quiet places with poor visibility
- Using a signal-blocking faraday bag for the vehicle key to reduce the chances of relay/hacking attacks
“We further encourage that all policyholders have a tracking device fitted, regardless of the type of vehicle. It is also imperative that customers regularly check and ensure that their tracking devices are in working order,” said Vlok.
Manufacturers take action
Following the recent spout of relay and key-hacking attacks in South Africa, manufacturers have started taking action to avoid their customers falling victim to these crimes.
Toyota in December last year announced free safety upgrades for five Toyota and two Lexus model ranges that aimed to reduce the chance of cars with the keyless entry feature opening up a pathway for theft.
Ford, too, said that it has built protective measures into its next-generation Everest and Ranger products for the same reason, though neither manufacturer revealed exactly what these initiatives entail for risk of the information getting into the wrong hands.
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