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Car hijackings up to 35 per day

30 Oct 2015

According to statistics recently released by the SAPS, car hijackings have increased nationally by an alarming 14.2% in 2014/15.

According to the SAPS, there were 12 773 reported car hijackings between 2014/15, compared to 11 180 in 2013/14 - an increase from 31 to 35 incidents per day, meaning that a car gets hijacked in South Africa once every 41 minutes.

Budget Insurance offers the following practical tips to avoid becoming a hijacking statistic:

Plan your route. Use a GPS to avoid getting lost and becoming an easy target. Inform the people / person at your destination about your estimated time of arrival.

Stay alert. Always be aware of your surroundings and look out for anything suspicious.

Be confident and focused. Limit distractions, such as checking or talking on your cellphone, when walking to or from your car.

Lock up. Avoid driving with windows open, keep the doors locked and lock valuables out of sight. Install smash-and-grab window protection if possible.

Mix things up. Vary the routes you take to make it less predictable for criminals.

Check the tail. If you suspect you are being followed, make a couple of false turns. If someone is still following you, drive to the nearest police station.

Allow space. Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you to avoid being boxed in.

Savvy stopping. Slowdown in such a way that the light is green by the time you reach a traffic light, especially late at night - this avoids you coming to a complete stop and reduces your risk of becoming a target.

Pick your parking spot. Always park in a safe, well-lit area.

Use panic buttons. If you sense you are in danger, use the panic button on your tracking device if it has one.

Go electric. Many hijackings happen just as you are entering or leaving your home. Having a well-lit, shrub-free driveway and an electric gate (that can switch to a battery during power failures) can help you get in and out safely. Use the remote to close the gate behind you, rather than waiting for the self-timer. This limits a criminal's window of opportunity.

Know your neighbour. Knowing your neighbours and the cars they drive well help you to better identify suspicious individuals and vehicles.

Keep an SOS phone. Keep a spare, small and cheap phone loaded with airtime and emergency contacts (including your insurer) handy so that you can call for help even if your car and valuables are stolen.

Keep your car in tiptop shape. A broken down car makes you a target for would-be hijackers who will settle for a raid of your valuables.

There are also seven golden rules to follow if you are confronted by a hijacker:

Remain calm.

Do not argue.

Do not make sudden gestures

Avoid eye contact but try to remember what the carjacker looked like by identifying and remembering special features.

Comply with the hijackers directions (within reason)

Try and get away from the area as quickly as possible

Don't be a hero - your life is worth more than your car