LIMPOPO – A recent theft of a white Ford Everest from a carwash in Namakgale has once again put the spotlight on carjackings.

The car has not yet been located despite a significant decline in carjacking incidents in the Mopani district and increased law enforcement. According to an anonymous local specialist, the drop in cases compared to 2021 and 2022 when carjackings were rampant, is encouraging, but vehicle owners must remain vigilant.

The specialist highlighted evolving tactics employed by carjackers, who are now targeting black and foreign nationals, particularly Somali, Pakistani, and Ethiopian business owners.

In many cases, vehicles are stolen during store robberies, where the culprits use the stolen cars to flee the scene.

“We’ve recently dealt with cases where vehicle owners returning from taverns were robbed by individuals they offered lifts to,” he explained. Another common method involves vehicles being taken during house robberies.

An emerging and troubling trend involves the fraudulent use of rental vehicles. Criminals rent cars from car rental companies and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.

These vehicles, often white single-cab Toyota bakkies with canopies, are sold below market value, luring buyers unaware of their criminal origins.

Certain vehicles are highly sought after by carjacking syndicates, with Toyota Fortuner, Ford Ranger and Everest, Hilux bakkies, and Volkswagen Polo topping the list.

Double cab bakkies, in particular, are in high demand across neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, where they are sold at significantly reduced prices.

The specialist detailed how stolen vehicles often cross borders with alarming ease, either through the Limpopo River or formal border control points.

From Zimbabwe, they are transported to Mozambique, Malawi, and even further north. To combat this persistent threat, he urged vehicle owners to invest in multiple tracking units.

“Don’t rely on just one tracking system. Carjackers are professionals and know how to locate and disable GPS trackers,” he warned.

He recommended supplementing GPS units with radio frequency (RF) tracking systems. Unlike GPS trackers, RF units have internal batteries and do not lose signal, making it easier to trace a stolen vehicle.

“I personally have three tracking units installed in my car. If my vehicle is ever stolen, it would be extremely difficult for thieves to get away,” he said.