JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – *We should legalise the gas canisters under the car. If a hijacker comes near you ,you push a button by your feet and well, no more hijacker. It has been developed, let’s legalise it and install it in our cars. We need to stop the crime or there will be nothing left. Mark
*The premise is not to put yourself in danger for your car. Conduct an anti-surveillance drill to ascertain if you are being followed, especially close to home. Use your older children, who are capable to assist with getting younger ones out of the vehicle. Getting children out quickly can depend upon the child seats they are in.
If the child is in a bumper type seat and able to open the car door and get him/ herself out, then put them on the passenger side so, on command you can tell them to evacuate the car, so you have one less child to get out yourself. Russ
*This is the worst of my fears, to have this happen. I have three children, nine, three and two years old. I’m always travelling with them in the car and don’t know what I would do in this situation! I just pray that I’m able to grab all three. The car is the least of my worries. EMP
*The first part of the article is good; the part with the information about how to make sure you get your kids out of the car and how to prevent hijacking by being alert and proactively cautious. The rest of the article seems to be telling people how to make it easier for the hijacker to take your car from you. Trace
*I have twins aged 20months. The article says, remove the younger child and the older child will come to you. What do you do if they are both young? The last thing I want to do is get child out and walk around the car to get the other one out. Tania
*Why must we live like prisoners in our own neighbourhood? We need to take our Surburbs back. I live in The Hill and the community decided to do something. Every Saturday we meet at the park opposite The Hill High school. Sylvia
*I would just like to know what to do when you have a child in the back of the car? My child is three and can undo her seatbelt, so is it then advisable to have her undo herself and climb over the seat onto my lap so that I can get her out of the car at the same time as I get out? Natalie
*I don’t quiet agree with the ‘get out and walk to the back of the car to take your children out’ part. Different hijackers have different modus operandi. They have one thing in mind and one thing only, take the car and go, regardless of who and what. Walking to the back of the car is in my opinion not advisable.
When the suspect tells you to get out, tell him you are going to turn around and take your child and do it, but slowly with no sudden moves. Do not make eye contact and very important, keep calm. Keep the children calm too. Get them out at the same time as you get out. Slowly move away with your children. Don’t worry about your car, bag or other belongings.
It can be replaced. Life is more important. After the ordeal it is also very important to see someone. Talk about it and share your feelings, also for the children. If you don’t know who to talk to, the emergency services usually have a Chaplin. There are also trauma counsellors at some police stations.
A last thing! We as parents want to raise our kids as kids, carefree and without worries. I am a mother and a cop. I understand your worries. I know what is out there. Sensitise your kids, especially if they are big enough to understand.
I feel every parent should in fact, although we don’t want to worry them with things like this. But we have to. It could save their lives and the lives of others. An informed person makes informed decisions. Lia
*Considering how aggressive and violent criminals are getting, I can’t help but feel that this advice only encourages them. I feel that more of us should stand up for our rights and carry a gun. Kevin
*I read this and I am so glad I immigrated to Australia. It’s the 21st century, how is it that this kind of advice is still needed in South Africa? Unpatriotic dude
*What cars are the hijackers targeting? Get cars that they don’t target and remove yourself and family from being a target! Patrick
*Why don’t we do what other countries do? Hold the politicians liable for what has happened since they have screwed up the police with political appointees who cannot do the job. Sue the minister of police with a class action.
This child is dead because of people being more interested in keeping their elaborate lifestyles than governing this country. This mother is shattered because they put their children above ours. This father is devastated because we are not allowed to protect our children, but no one is protecting us from the bad guys. Gail
*I got hijacked in December 2008. They took everything inside and the car included but didn’t get to take me and rape me. I am only thankful I didn’t have anybody else in the car. I can thank God that I am alive because I had to make a decision, whether I was going to let them take me or take a bullet.
I decided a bullet would be better and got myself out the car. I simply kept my eyes closed and told them (three adult black men, one armed) to wait. I did not plan it, I had no idea what I was doing and I have, to this day, not got over it. I suffer from PTS. But I got away with my life and a broken nose (the guy taking my car punched me) and I didn’t get gang raped or murdered.
Not so for the woman in the BMW 30 minutes later who got killed by the same hijackers. They got caught, the car was found. I really don’t care about what they stole materially but what they really stole from me was far worse. Nicky
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