Hijack awareness during lockdown
While we must never let our guard down, keep in mind that no car is worth your life
WHILE the Minister of Police, General Bheki ‘The Hatter’ Cele, has proudly announced a drop in crime levels due to the national lockdown, we must not forget that criminals are still out there and, being criminals, are active and never much worried about the law.
Zululand motorists must therefore not let their guard down, especially when it comes to hijacking because, like everybody else, hijackers are bound to try and make up for ‘lost business hours’.
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Remember: the three areas where you are at most risk of being hijacked are in your own driveway, at intersections and in shopping centre parking lots.
Autodealer proposes the following in order to reduce the risk of falling prey to vehicle robbers:
• At shopping centres and at work, reverse your car into parkings in order to allow you to exit quicker.
• If possible, park against a wall or a similar barrier so that criminals cannot sneak up behind you.
• When heading towards your car in a parking lot, be ready by having your keys in your hand and do not waste time when putting your shopping in the boot.
• When on the move, anticipate traffic light changes in order to minimise stationary time at robots.
• When you do stop, remember to still watch the vehicle’s blind spots because criminals often approach from those angles.
• Keep an eye on beggars and hawkers and do not let these people distract you.
• Do not block yourself in by keeping too close to the vehicle in front and always try to identify a possible escape route.
• When approaching home and your gate, be on the lookout for suspicious cars and loiterers.
• Always watch your gate until it is fully closed behind you and before exiting the car, scan your surroundings to make sure everything is as it should be.
While we must never let our guard down, keep in mind that no car is worth your life.
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