Hijackings news 2019: What you need to know

It’s not news that car hijackings are prevalent in South Africa, and between April 2017 and March 2018, more than 16 000 carjacking’s were committed – around 45 every day. Speak to your friends and you’re bound to know someone who has a hijacking story

While there’s no guarantee that you can prevent a hijacking, following some steps, and knowing where the hijacking hotspots are, and what the modus operandi of hijackers is, will go a long way in protecting yourself.

According to Cars.co.za, the following areas are hijacking hotspots in South Africa:

Johannesburg:

• Pretoria Road, CR Swart
• Elgin Road and Pretoria Road, Johannesburg
• Linksfield Road, N3
• Booysens Road, M1
• Nelson Mandela Bridge
• Wolmarans Road, Johannesburg
• Saratoga Road, Johannesburg
• Abel Road, Johannesburg
• Houghton Drive, M1
• Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg
• Krause Street, Pageview
• Heidelberg Road, Johannesburg
• Kyalami Drive, Johannesburg
• Beyers Naude road and N1
• Sunninghill, N1, Rivonia
• Midrand, Clayville
• Grayston, Rivonia, 11th Street.
• Empire Road, Johannesburg
• Jan Smuts Avenue, William Nicol Drive, Hyde Park
• Witkoppen Road
• 11th Avenue and 7th Avenue, Johannesburg
• Hillbrow Precinct, Upper Houghton, Killarney
• Christiaan de Wet and Wilgerood road
• Louis Botha Avenue, M11, Hillbrow, Alexandra
• Riviera Road and M1
• 11th Avenue, Fairland
• 1st Avenue and Pretoria Main road, Johannesburg
• New road and N1, Midrand
• William Nichol, N1 highway
• Nelson Mandela Drive, Johannesburg
• Outside Eskom’s MegaWatt Park. (Maxwell Drive, Sunninghill)
• Midrand Road and Cedar Road

Pretoria:

• Es’kiaMphahlele Drive
• Paul Kruger Street
• R55
• Burnett Street
• Delfi Avenue and Garsfontein Road
• Stormvoel Road Traffic Lights
• Watermeyer Street Traffic Lights
• Nelson Mandela Drive
• Simon Vermooten Rd & Lynnwood Rd
• Lynwood Drive and Solomon Mahlangu Drive
• Justice Mahomed Street (Walker Street)
• Duncan Street
• Lynnwood Rd & University Rd
• Rigel and N1 offramp
• Pretoria St and Simon Vermooten Road
• Simon Vermooten Road and Furrow Road
• Lynwood Road and N1 offramp
• Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Hans Strydom) and N4 offramp
• Solomon Mahlangu and R21
• Atterbury Road and N1 offramp
• Pretorius Street traffic lights
• Francis Baard Street and Festival Street
• Francis Baard Street and Hilda Street
• Francis Baard Street and Grosvenor Street

Cape Town

• Military Road and Prince George Drive
• St Stephens Road
• Alice Street and Voortrekker Road
• Station Road
• Klipfontein Road
• Prestwich Road, Ebenhezer
• Vanguard Drive
• R300, N1 Cape Town

Durban

AN Centre, 16 Chestnut Cres, Marianhill,

• 1 Justice St, Chatsworth
• Umlazi V
• 2 Police Station Road, Isipingo
• 36 Deodar Avenue, Umbilo
• Julius Nyerere Streetand Anton Lembede Street, Greyville
• Dr Pixley Kaseme Street,
• 182 Botanic Gardens Road, Musgrave
• Alpine Road
• 2 Marbleray Dr, New Dawn Park
• Park Hill, Durban North

According to ArriveAlive, the following is the general modus operandi of hijackers:

• Most hijackings take place in the driveways of residential areas. These hijackers prefer areas with accessible escape routes.
• Hijackings take place while stationed at any traffic sign or intersection.
• Hijackings take place while stationary next to the road, for example if someone is on their cell phone.
• Hijackings also occur at post offices and parking areas or you may be followed leaving the filling station with the objective to hijack your vehicle where it is quiet.
• The hijackers sometimes use a vehicle to force the victim off the road.
• Hijackings take place at schools when dropping off / picking up children.
• Hijackings take place while the vehicle is idling when off-loading / loading passengers.
• Hijackings take place when advertising your vehicle for sale, in a “test drive” scenario.
• Bogus police or traffic officers also conduct hijackings, in a “blue light” scenario

Steps to avoid a hijacking

• Stay alert at all times
• Change your routes
• Get an electric gate
• Slow your speed when approaching traffic lights
• Keep your car locked and your windows closed
• Don’t get boxed in
• When stopping behind another vehicle, leave half a car’s length in front so you can make an emergency escape if necessary.
• When returning home after dark, ensure that an outside light is on, or have someone meet you at the gate. Check with your armed response company if they offer a service of accompanying you home. Be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles/persons. This is very important as the majority of hijackers approach their victims in home driveways.
• When parking, check rearview mirror to ensure you are not being followed.
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers or strangers.
• Hijackers may fake a small accident, like bumping you from behind. If you don’t feel comfortable with the driver, indicate that they must follow you and drive to the nearest police station or any busy public area for help.
• Don’t open your window or door for any stranger. If a suspicious person is near your unoccupied vehicle, do not approach it. Rather go to the nearest public area and ask for assistance.
• If you see any obstacles in the road such as rocks or tyres, don’t get out of your car to remove them. Reverse and drive away in the opposite direction.

If you are accosted by a hijacker:

• Remain calm
• Don’t fight
• Don’t make sudden gestures
• Do not make sudden gestures
• Avoid eye contact with the hijackers
• Give them what they want – your life is worth more than your car

For more information on comprehensive car insurance that could cover you in the case of an unfortunate hijacking, click here.

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Tips for driving safely at night