9 hijacking trends and methods to look out for in South Africa

While some hijackings are meticulously planned, others are opportunistic, with hijackers taking advantage of being at the right place, at the right time, according to insurer, Dialdirect.

And quarterly data published by the South African Police Service (SAPS) earlier in August showed that they are struggling to deal with violent crimes including murder and hijackings across the country.

The data showed that a total of 5,866 hijackings were reported across the country between April and June 2022 – a 14% increase from the 5,146 hijackings reported over the same period the previous year.

Hijackings are also up quarter-on-quarter, climbing 8.6% from 5,402 cases recorded in Q4 2021/2022. Looking at hijacking trends over the three-month period, there was a sharp jump in May, followed by a decline in June.

Dialdirect has previously cited an interview with a reformed hijacker to garner insights into the world of vehicle theft and hijacking.

The reformed criminal said that a team of four hijackers – often numbed out by alcohol and drugs – can take between 30 to 40 cars per month or five or six cars per day.

Hijackers operate according to their clients’ “shopping list”, which specifies exactly what make and model of car they need, how many they need and when they need it by. When it comes to identifying areas and victims, hijackers will target areas where there’s a higher chance of getting the specific car that they need, without presenting too much risk to themselves.

People on their way back from shopping malls make for ideal targets, as they usually carry cash or cards that could be an added “bonus”. Hijackers will often force their victim to share the PIN to their bank card, sometimes holding them hostage to ensure that the PIN provided is correct, and/or to make multiple withdrawals.

The informant said that in public spaces, hijackers will follow a target at a distance, later moving closer and striking at a traffic light. They often use the strategy of bumping into their victim and making them think that it is an accident to get them to exit their car.

Driveways are also a prime hijacking hotspot, where hijackers typically box in a victim before the access gate is completely open.

Data from Dialdirect highlighted the most common hijacking trends in the country:

• The blockage method – pouncing on victims when deliveries are made, keeping security gates open and forcing those inside the property to comply with their demands. This tactic is also used on narrow roads, where there’s little or no space for the victim to escape.

• The imposter method – on the road, at homes and at businesses – posing as officials to get people to pull over or grant access to their properties.

• The Good Samaritan method – convincing targets that something is wrong with their vehicles or taking a vehicle’s number plate or another accessory when the vehicle is stationary, and then driving next to and showing it to their targets – as if they picked it up and simply want to return it – to get them to pull over.

• The test drive method – posing as a potential buyer who wants to test drive the vehicle but with no intention of returning it.

• The bumper bashing method – bumping into their victim’s vehicle, making them think that it’s an accident.

• The breakdown method – acting as if their vehicle has broken down, getting victims to pull over to help or to slow down to drive around them.

• Driveway hijackings – boxing in victims when entering or exiting their properties.

• The follow-me-home method – identifying a high-value target in a public space and then following them to a more opportune pouncing spot.

• The slow-moving traffic method – staking out a spot where traffic is moving slowly or following a target at a distance, later moving closer and striking at a traffic light.

To protect yourself against hijackings, the National Hijacking Prevention Academy (NHPA) and Dialdirect provide the following tips:

1. Always be alert: Especially when your vehicle will be moving slowly or coming to a complete stop. Avoid being distracted and pay careful attention to your surroundings.
2. Back to basics: Know your neighbours, keep your driveway free of places where perpetrators can hide and ensure it’s well-lit. Remember to lock doors when driving.
3. Roadmap: Plan your route carefully to avoid driving at unsafe times and through unsafe areas, or coming to a stop/driving slower, therefore becoming an easier target. Alternate your habits and routes.
4. 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.
5. Gate safe:
   • Automatic gate: If possible, stop on the road parallel to your gate, giving yourself an escape route. Once the gate is fully open, turn in, and stop your vehicle just on the inside. Wait for it to close behind you before proceeding to park. You want to avoid being followed into your property, as a hijacking could turn into a house robbery.
   • Non-automatic gate: Stop right in front of the gate. Check if it’s safe before exiting your vehicle. Leave the key in the ignition and the engine running; open and close the door so that, in the event of an attack, the perpetrator does not have to approach you to take the vehicle. Move as swiftly as you can.
6. Stop smart: Time your approach to traffic lights in such a way that you don’t have to come to a complete stop. When stopping behind a vehicle at a traffic light/stop sign, make sure you can see its rear tyres touch the road surface. This will make it more difficult to be boxed in and give you enough space to escape if needed. Also, move swiftly when pickup up or dropping off passengers or goods.
7. Smash & grab prevention: Keep your phone and other valuables out of sight. Thieves and hijackers often “window shop” before striking. Avoid driving with windows wide open.

Read: New hijacking trend to look out for in South Africa