As has always been the case, car and truck hijacking is most common in South Africa\u2019s most populated province, Gauteng, followed by other built-up provinces such as KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape. Over half (50.5%) of all reported car hijackings occur in Gauteng (7,376 cases), and 58.% of all reported truck hijackings (695 cases).<\/p>\n
The increasing retrenchment and the high unemployment figures are also factors.\u00a0 “This is easy earned money and the already well-established syndicates will buy these vehicles from the hijacker,” the academy said.<\/p>\n
It noted that specific vehicles with specific characteristics are ordered before the crime has even been committed and efforts have to be made to meet the requirements of such orders. “These vehicles will then be resold to the already predetermined buyer,” the group said.<\/p>\n
The hijacked vehicles that are not sold to buyers in South Africa, will be smuggled out of the country.\u00a0 “These vehicles will be sold in our neighbouring countries or trade, exchanged for drugs”.<\/p>\n
It noted that the large number of stolen and unlicensed firearms were also a concern.\u00a0 Most of these firearms are bought or supplied to hijackers by the syndicates.\u00a0 This easy access to firearms make the robbery of a vehicle the easiest crime to commit and by far the quickest way of earning a few thousand rand.<\/p>\n
“It is obvious that vehicle hijackers are motivated by greed and an insatiable need for more and more comfort, rather than need.\u00a0 An insatiable hunger for power is another theme emerging in robbers.\u00a0 The power-base for the latter is presented by the access to firearms.\u00a0 Possession of a firearm forces everybody to obey or else face the consequences,” it said.<\/p>\n
By further way of warning, the National Hijack Prevention Academy has identified the days of the week and time of day in which hijackings occur most frequently:<\/p>\n
The analysis indicated that hijackings occur every day of the week, reaching a high on Fridays, due to motorists being more relaxed and traffic increasing earlier on a Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n Weekends show a lower hijacking rate due to syndicates checking their stock and placing orders on Mondays as well as the fact that there are fewer vehicles on the road.\u00a0 “This also explains why Tuesdays and Wednesdays show more hijackings,” the academy said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Hijack1.jpg\")
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