Into the first half of 2024, security firms and insurers have raised concerns about a surge in hijackings, with bold or unusual car colours no longer serving as a deterrent.

According to MotorHappy, Fidelity ADT reported a noticeable rise in hijackings within their operational areas during the first half of 2024, compared to both the same period in 2023 and the latter half of that year.

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Nearly half of these incidents are concentrated in Gauteng, with the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal each accounting for around 14%.

Car theft is often linked to the demand-and-supply dynamics of the black market, where specific vehicles are targeted for particular purposes.

From Fidelity’s findings, the most hijacked vehicles in South Africa include:

• White Nissan Almera

• White VW Polo

• White Toyota Hi-Ace

• White Nissan NP200

• Grey, blue, or white Toyota Corolla

Historically, white and silver vehicles were the primary targets, aligning with black market trends that mirrored mainstream preferences.

However, there is now growing demand for vehicles in non-traditional colours like orange and yellow, which are increasingly being targeted.

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Bright-coloured cars were once avoided by hijackers because their visibility made them harder to hide from tracking companies and law enforcement.

However, this trend has shifted due to changes in criminal behaviour.

*Information supplied by MotorHappy