{"id":711740,"date":"2023-08-17T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=711740"},"modified":"2023-08-17T13:00:13","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T11:00:13","slug":"how-to-protect-yourself-from-hijackings-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/711740\/how-to-protect-yourself-from-hijackings-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"How to protect yourself from hijackings in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa has seen an uptick in hijackings, and Philippa Wild, Chief Underwriting Officer at Santam, has provided a host of tips for South African motorists to keep themselves safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With carjackings remaining a threat to South Africans, Philippa Wild from Santam has provided tips for motorists to keep themselves safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the latest quarterly crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2022\/23 year \u2013 1 January to 31 March 2023, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said that 5,119 cars were hijacked over the period – equating to 57 cars being stolen in South Africa every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this marks a 5.2% decline over the same period in the 2021\/22 period, month-on-month data showed that carjackings increased by 14% from 1,614 in February to 1,842 in March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SAPS’s data shows that the Northern Cape (37.5%), North West (23%), the Free State (19%), Limpopo (13.4%), Western Caper (7.4%) and the Eastern Cape (7.1%) all saw substantial increases in the number of year-on-year hijackings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Gauteng saw a 12.4% decrease in hijackings, it still equates to roughly half of all hijackings in the country – with 2,572 hijackings over the three months. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Wild said the number of hijackings reported in the crime statistics reflects the insurer\u2019s claims experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt Santam, we have seen a significant rise in crime-related vehicle claims for theft and hijacking over the past 18 months, particularly for high-value vehicles. Santam has also seen a trend in the theft of certain keyless vehicles through hijacking and car jamming methods,\u201d Wild said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She has urged motorists to remain extra vigilant at take every precaution to protect themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite hijackings taking place all over South Africa, she said they mainly occur in the major metropolitan areas of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs vehicle technology advances, so do the techniques used by thieves to gain entry into targeted cars,\u201d said Wild. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the rise in popularity of keyless vehicles, criminals have adapted their car jamming methods. Often they work in pairs, where one criminal remains with the vehicle and the other follows the driver to intercept the radio wave signal sent from the keyless remote to the vehicle receiver unit.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There’s a new tactic used by criminals to steal cars in South Africa – here’s what you need to know<\/a><\/blockquote>