According to the latest SA Police Service crime statistics, there has been a 49% increase in hijackings in Honeydew alone, and an eye-watering 63.5% increase in Boksburg North.  Krugersdorp car owners are also under siege, with a 33.3% increase in the past month. According to King Price’s client experience partner, Wynand van Vuuren, the most hijacked vehicles are the usual suspects: Volkswagen Polos, Toyota Fortuners, and other high-end bakkies. 

But no vehicle, or suburb, is entirely safe.  So how do you reduce your chances of becoming the latest statistic? It’s all about staying alert, says Van Vuuren. Here are his top 5 tips to avoid being hijacked.

Check that you’re not being followed

The most common place people are hijacked is their own driveway.  If you think you’re being followed, don’t turn into your driveway – rather keep driving. If the car stays behind you, drive straight to the nearest police station.  And even if there’s no one around you, don’t drive straight into your driveway: if you can stop in the road while the gate is opening, so that you have some space to get away if you see a suspicious vehicle approaching.

Watch out for cars slowing down 

There’s an increasing trend of hijackers stopping suddenly in front of you on a highway offramp or busy street, leaving you nowhere to go. 

When you stop, they take your car at gunpoint. 

Always try to keep some distance between you and the car in front of you. Another modus operandi is for the hijackers to bump into your car from behind, to make you pull over and assess the damage. 

Be aware of your surroundings

When you’re standing still at an intersection, don’t check your phone or fiddle with the car radio. Stay alert to what’s happening around you. 

Watch out for any potential threats. Keep your windows closed and your doors locked, and leave enough room in the traffic to avoid getting boxed in.

Don’t be the hero

If a hijack happens, just give up your car and your possessions. Move slowly. 

Keep your hands visible, and don’t look directly at the hijackers. If you have children in the car, tell the hijacker that you’re going to take a few seconds to get them out. 

Don’t get involved in verbal or physical altercations. Your life is worth more than your earthly possessions.

Make sure you’re covered

Make sure that your car insurance cover is up to date and that you do what’s required of you. 

Also, check whether your policy offers emergency assistance, in case anything happens to you, and make sure that you’ve saved the number on your phone.