The City of Cape Town has successfully recovered 41 stolen vehicles in the span of 10 months – a 58% improvement from the year before.
Additionally, at least 77 arrests have been made in connection with these incidents.
The city’s metro police department explained that its officers are generally tipped off to potentially stolen vehicles during physical traffic stops where they run the licence plate and check for other identifiers like the VIN number.
In other cases, the authorities receive alerts via the city’s control room, which is linked to a surveillance camera network with number plate recognition technology.
Through these methods, Cape Town’s metro police was able to recover 41 vehicles and arrest 77 individuals on 105 charges.
The city also revealed which car brands are most often targeted by criminals, and where these incidents most often take place.
It stated that Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai were the most common makes to be recovered, and that at least six car theft incidents occured in Philippi.
Another four took place in Lentegeur, while three incidents were reported in Bishop Lavis, Maneburg, Gugulethu, and Philippi East, identifying these locations as car theft and hijacking hotspots.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, commented on the city’s ongoing efforts to tackle illegal acitivies.
Concerningly, he warned that many stolen cars in South Africa are often used to commit additional crimes.
“It goes so much deeper than just stolen or hijacked vehicles. In many instances, the vehicle theft is just part of a bigger plan to commit other crimes like robbery,” he said.
“Our officers recovered 41 stolen vehicles, but they also recovered firearms, cellphones, cash and bank cards in some of the incidents.”
JP Smith added that several of the suspects recently arrested for car theft may be linked to other, more severe crimes.
In addition to the charges for the possession of stolen vehicles, many of the 77 detained suspects are facing charges for fraud, hijacking, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and possession of suspected stolen property.
The metro police stated that all vehicles recovered by the city’s enforcement agencies are booked in at the South African Police Services (SAPS) pound in Stikland.
The vehicles are typically returned to their rightful owner once investigators have completed an analysis, collecting potential evidence such as fingerprints and incriminating possessions.
Citizens are required to present proof of ownership to the SAPS before their car can be released.
Safety tips for motorists
The city also provided a list of recommendations that motorists can follow to avoid becoming a victim of car theft of hijacking.
It advised that owners should always lock their doors, and keep their windows closed at all times.
For safety reasons, it’s better to park in well-lit, secure areas and to double check that your car is locked before walking away.
This is because there has been an uptick in thieves using signal jammers, which block the signal from your car’s key fob to prevent it from locking as you walk away, allowing them to enter the vehicle.
When driving, motorists should also leave a sufficient gap between their car and the vehicle in front of them to avoid being boxed in, as this will prevent you from being able to escape from potential hijackers.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are being targeted, hoot, flash your lights, and put your emergency lights on to draw attention from people who may be able to assist.
As a final precaution, always remain vigilant of your surroundings and report suspicious behaviour to the police.
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