By: Vuyolwethu Nzolongwane
According to police recorded crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year, the rate of carjacking in the Eastern Cape has increased.
A particular focus in the East London area has shown how the increased crime rates in the province have unnerved residents and prompted vigilance from many vehicle owners. An observation made from popular Facebook groups posts has shown how there are posts every other day from owners, relatives or friends asking the public to be on the lookout for a missing vehicle. Some drivers are lucky enough to retrieve their stolen vehicles within hours while others are not as fortunate.
“Drivers should make sure that their cars are locked properly when they leave them and look at installing anti-theft devices. As for hijackings, they should avoid the hotspot areas,” advised Nitesh Harry.
With the evident increase in crime, some residents are worried about how there might be a syndicate that might be targeting certain car models, and the fear of next having many drivers taking extra precautions to avoid being a victim.
Mdantsane resident, Asiphe Mdlamza believes that hijackings are not always random as carjackers study their victim’s routine and plan when the carjacking or car theft will happen and strike at a time that they feel is convenient for them.
“Taking pictures and posting them on social media without hiding the registration number makes us easy targets to hijackings and theft because a lot of times the culprits study their target and follow them for a while before they attack. Drivers can ensure the safety of their vehicles by always checking if the doors are locked before they move away from the car and ensuring that all windows are closed and avoid parking in dodgy and unfamiliar areas and offering lifts to strangers and driving at night,” she said.
Everyone has their way of trying to keep safe, with some measures more extreme than others. Liaan Murray believes that one can never be too cautious where safety is concerned and that it is always in the best interest of the driver to remove anything that would attract the attention of criminals.
He advises that drivers need to be vigilant and take extra care to notice all that is happening around them so that they are not caught off guard.
“Don’t leave valuables in the open in the car, whether you are driving or parked. Make sure to check if your doors are locked before leaving your car to prevent car remote jamming.
For hijacking, when you approach a stop street or a robot, wind up your windows and when you’re behind another car, make sure that you have enough space so that you can drive off if needed, don’t get stuck between cars,” said Murray.