Where the most vehicle crime happens in South Africa

Never has there been a more crucial time to insure one’s car for theft, break-in and hijacking, which are rife in this country.

Car tracking service Tracker has released its vehicle crime statistics for the year July 2018 to June 2019. The stats come from Tracker’s 1.1 million installed vehicle base, and cover vehicle theft and hijacking, and provide insight into the time of day and day of the week when vehicle crime is most likely to occur in South Africa. The index also records the suburbs most affected in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Western Cape, the provinces that encounter the most vehicle crime, and the techniques that criminals use.

Tracker data shows that the most activations for hijackings take place on a Friday between 11:00 and 13:00, followed by 20:00 to 23:00. Cars are activated (which means Tracker initiated recovery action) for theft mainly on a Saturday between 12:00 and 14:00. These statistics are unchanged from the previous year’s records.

The majority of activations as a percentage of Tracker’s installed base are in Gauteng, followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Western Cape. The suburbs in Gauteng most affected by hijacking are Kensington, Arcadia and Eldorado Park, while the Pretoria CBD, Arcadia and Sunnyside have the most activations for theft. In Kwa-Zulu Natal, hijackings mainly occur in Sydenham, Imbali and Avoca Hills, while theft is mostly reported in Glenwood, Morningside and Musgrave. In the Western Cape, it is Philippi, Khayelitsha and Maitland for hijacking, and Philippi, Claremont and Dunoon for theft.

Tracker records indicate that the techniques employed by criminals are unchanged from the previous year. The company has noted an increase in hostage-taking during hijackings. An average of 29% of Tracker’s activations results in a hostage being taken.

Other techniques include criminals impersonating law enforcement officials to commit hijackings, a method is otherwise known as blue light robberies; the spiking of drinks to take advantage of unsuspecting victims; and vehicle theft using online selling platforms, where sellers hand over goods on receipt of a fake payment.

When it comes to business crime, most vehicles are being stolen to obtain the fast-moving consumables that they are carrying. However, there are instances where the vehicle itself is sought.

A vehicle tracker can offer more than stolen vehicle recovery - there are many different types of vehicle tracking devices and added services available to the market that offer greater care and protection for the families.

Tracker reported 5438 vehicles recovered, 1037 arrests and 50 firearms recovered for the twelve months from July 2018 to June 2019.

Installing a vehicle tracker can reduce one’s vehicle insurance premiums significantly. When taking out car insurance, one of the key questions that the insurance company will ask, is if you have a tracking device installed, as it increases your car’s safety, and makes recovery more possible.  

While it might be a grudge purchase, insuring your car in a country with such high vehicle crime rates is a must. MotorHappy provides a selection of quotes for affordable car insurance from some of South Africa’s most respected insurers. You’ll be saving money in the long run if something, unfortunately, happens to your car or your possessions. 

To find out more or to get a quick online quote, click here.