How to avoid becoming a victim of hijacking

THE RECENT spate of hijackings in the province has once again highlighted a daily battle of safety that South Africans are faced with.

According to statistics released by the South African Police Service, a total of 16 717 hijacking cases were recorded over the 2016/17 financial period – the highest amount of hijacking cases over the past decade.

 KZN itself showed an increase of 536 hijacking cases with 3029 cases being recorded during this period

With this in mind, there are ways to lessen your chances of becoming a victim of a hijacking.

Tracker SA released a video, providing South Africans with tips to consider as to avoid becoming another hijacking statistic.

https://www.facebook.com/dalaucrew/videos/633231383686628/

At the time in which the video was released in 2013, South Africa recorded 11 180 hijackings cases, more than 5000 cases less than what the current figure is sitting at.

Further tips to avoid becoming a victim of hijacking:

Engage your going home mode and avoid being a victim

• 2km from your house strategy: Be extra alert. Switch off the car radio and concentrate on your surroundings. If you have noticed any vehicle following you, drive towards your nearest police station.
• Remember to stop your vehicle just on the inside of the gate and select reverse whilst waiting for the gate to close. This creates confusion and may buy you a few seconds for the gate to close completely behind you.
• Check your driveway and street before you leave or enter your premises.
• Make sure your driveway is well lit and clear from shrubbery where perpetrators can hide.
• Be aware of unknown pedestrians close to your residential address – do not turn into your driveway – pass and go back later.
• Liaise with your neighbours – know them.
• Be aware of vehicles parked close to your address with occupants inside. It might be perpetrators observing the area.
• Be alert if your animals do not greet you at the gate as usual. It might be that the perpetrators over-powered them.
• Phone your home and ask for someone to make sure your driveway is safe and to open and close the gate for you.
• When returning home after dark, ensure that an outside light is on, or have someone meet you at the gate. Check with your armed response company if they are rendering rendezvous services.
• If at any time you have to open the gate yourself, make sure nobody suspicious around and the road is clear. Stop right in front of your gate. Do not switch off the vehicle, leave the key in the ignition, get out and close the door (not creating temptation). Then open the gate. Drive in and close the gate immediately behind you.
• If you have small children in the vehicle, take the key with you (this is the only exception). You need the key as a “negotiating tool”. The perpetrators want your vehicle and you want your children.
• If your children are older, it is advised that they exit the vehicle with you when opening the gate so that you are all separated from the vehicle should an attack occur.

Why is it important to recover your vehicle after a hijacking?

While this may sound like an irrelevant question, it is not.

Tracking systems provide a unique early warning anti-theft functionality that notifies you if someone tampers with your battery or moves your car without your consent.

Over and above this, vehicle tracking solutions use a combination of GPS technology with GSM and Radio Frequency that provides accurate positioning of your vehicle without the interference from terrain-based obstacles such as hills and buildings.

So, even if you lose cell phone signal, you can have peace of mind that your service provider has your back (and your car) in sight.

If you are looking for a device to simply recover your car in the event that it is stolen, a vehicle recovery device from Exclusive Sound is a solution for you. They are a certified Tracker fitment company with a no-nonsense approach to the safety and privacy of your tracking unit fitment and tracking solutions.

Call their technical team today on 035 792 2977 and speak to the highly qualified team about fitting your Tracker unit.

However, if you want a solution that enables you to monitor your vehicle at any time and place, as well as personal safety services that provide you with peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, you and your family are taken care of, then a vehicle tracking device is the solution for you.

In addition to this, the recovery of your vehicle helps in the strengthening of your case and can provide police with vital information such as, fingerprints, DNA or even evidence left behind by the suspects.

All of these form a crucial part of the investigation into linking suspects to the case itself.