Johannesburg – Honeydew is the highest-risk area for vehicle hijacking and theft in Gauteng, while Sandton is the fourth safest of those ranked. And if you live in the Western Cape, Bellville is the area you need to be the most careful in, while Paarl and Somerset West appear to be the safest.
This is according to a presentation published on the
website and compiled by
, based on January 2017 crime statistics and showing the highest-risk areas and suburbs in the country.
The data released by the tracking and fleet management company also shows that Gauteng, as expected, is still the car crime capital by a huge margin, accounting for 64 percent of vehicle theft and hijacking, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (15%), Western Cape (7%), Eastern Cape (5%), and Mpumalanga (3%).
According to C-Track, 50% of all vehicle thefts took the form of hijackings while 47% were conventional thefts and 3% took place during robberies.
Most incidents took place on a Tuesday (18%), followed Friday (16%), Wednesday and Thursday (15%), Saturday (13%), Monday (12%) and Sunday (11%).
Hijackings are on the rise in South Africa, with the latest year-on-year official statistics showing a 14.3 percent increase to 14 602, or 40 a day. In fact, the rate has surged by 55 percent in the last four years, according to the Institute for Security Studies.
Below are the high-risk areas in each province, according to C-Track. Click
for full-sized images.
HOW TO AVOID A HIJACKING
Don't enter your driveway
if there is a car behind you that you even remotely suspect may be following you, rather do a loop around the block and if the vehicle is still there, drive to the nearest police station. Also look out for suspicious vehicles in the vicinity before pulling into your driveway
Avoid entering parking
areas when you have reason to suspect you're being followed - see previous point
Always travel with the car doors locked
Leave enough room
between your car and the one in front to avoid being boxed in. Make sure you can see where the tyres of the car in front make contact with the road
Attract the attention
of other motorists or pedestrians if you think you are in danger. You can use the hooter, flash your lights, put your emergency lights on or shout
Be aware
of anybody who approaches your car or is loitering near traffic lights, stop streets, parking areas or your driveway.
Don't stop
if, for example, a passer-by indicates that your car has a flat tyre or other defect. Drive to the nearest service station or safe area and check it there
Don't tell strangers
your movements or plans
Don't pick up hitchhikers
or unknown people
Don't leave your car door open
and the engine running while opening your garage door or gates. Criminals act quicker than you would expect
Sources: C-Track, Arrive Alive, National Hijack Prevention Academy