Surviving blue light hijackings
According to Const Kamogelo Baloyi you are within your rights, when a supposed officer is attempting to pull you over, to drive to a nearby populated spot where there are people around to stop.
A frightening new crime tactic has been utilised by hijackers targeting the R59 highway.
In an exposé by Carte Blanche, they highlighted how a group of robbers they dubbed the blue light gang use a vehicle with blue lights and marks seemingly indicating it is a police vehicle.
They told the story of a victim of such an occurrence where a person masquerading as a police officer pulled him over and he was subsequently attacked by three gunmen who took the vehicle and the family in the car to a veld, stealing all their valuables, the bakkie and money drawn from their accounts.
Your rights
The RECORD spoke to Brackendowns SAPS, whose jurisdiction covers part of the R59, about what you as a motorist should do if you suspect something is wrong when someone tries to pull you over.
According to Const Kamogelo Baloyi you are within your rights, when a supposed officer is attempting to pull you over, to drive to a nearby populated spot where there are people around to stop.
“You can also drive to a nearby filling station or a nearby police station and pull over there,” said Baloyi.
Baloyi further said that you are allowed to call the police to ask whether this vehicle following you is in fact a police vehicle.
“Remain in your vehicle,” said Baloyi.
She further indicated that you can ask a police officer to produce identification to indicate that he is in fact a police officer.
Send a pin drop
Linda Goodenough, community development manager for Fidelity ADT, gave further advice to motorists that do find themselves in a hijacking. She said that it is important to let someone know where you are if you feel you are in trouble.
This can be as simple as sending a pin drop to a friend or using an assist me app.
If you do find yourself being hijacked, she suggests that you don’t make any fast movements, avoid eye contact and follow all orders given to you.
She advises you to tell the robbers what you are doing when you do it and alert them of any children or pets in the vehicle.
If you are being hijacked, it is important to remember that your life is more important than your car.
