The number of car hijackings in South Africa increased during the overall nationwide isolation and is now more common than car theft.
Although car hijackings can strike at any time, it also now appears that there has been a shift in the specific days and time during which car hijackings are reported. Certain cities or towns also run through more than others.
This is how the vehicle tracking company Tracker explained in its latest index on vehicle crime statistics. Those statistics are based on the more than 1.1 million cars that Tracker’s tracking systems have installed.
According to the index, the number of vehicle crime incidents before the introduction of overall nationwide isolation across the country increased by about 11% annually. This increase was mainly due to car hijackings which increased by about 21% annually.
However, car theft has not increased or decreased since the previous year.
“The isolation period has created an extraordinary range of circumstances and the small number of vehicle crime numbers we saw during Level 5 of isolation was the last time we experienced it,” Tracker said in a statement.
According to the company’s statistics, the number of vehicle crime incidents in April, shortly after the introduction of the nationwide isolation across the country, dropped to only 19% of the average monthly vehicle crime activity.
However, crime of this nature began to increase again as the country’s segregation regulations were lifted, to the extent that the country experienced three times more vehicle crime activities in May (62% of the normal crime rate).
These offenses almost reached the normal level of vehicle crime activities again in June than before the isolation period, or 93%.
Tracker explains that car hijackings are more common than car theft during overall nationwide isolation. Hijackings account for 56% of reported incidents, while car theft accounts for 44%.
“Three months before the introduction of the isolation period, as many hijackings were reported as car theft. Last year, more theft than hijackings were reported. “
This is when hijackings occur
According to Tracker, the latest data indicates that car hijackings now tend to take place more frequently from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
“Hijackings are also reported to Tracker all day from 11:00 to 24:00. Theft is mainly reported over the weekend and over lunch. ”
According to the index, Gauteng, in particular Johannesburg, still experiences the most vehicle crime activities, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, especially in Durban.
In the Western Cape, car hijackings are mainly reported in Mitchells Plain.
Other hotspots regarding car hijackings include: eMalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga, Rustenburg in the North West, Burgersfort in Limpopo and Bloemfontein in the Free State.
“With the latest statistics indicating that car hijackings can take place at any time of the week and at any time, it is clear that criminals benefit from opportunistic situations and it is therefore essential to always be vigilant,” said Ron Knott-Craig. , CEO of operational services at Tracker South Africa.
“Make sure your vehicle tracking device is in working order and use the features that your vehicle tracking service provides.”
