A regular Tuesday evening drive home turned into a nightmare for a Brettenwood resident last week, when he was hijacked and kidnapped at the Salt Rock N2 off-ramp.
Just before driving off from the stop sign at the Salt Rock / Umhlali turn off at around 7pm, Alex Chapman was checking his blindspot when he was greeted by an armed man at his window.
“I opened my door, was grabbed around the neck and before I knew it, more armed men approached the other side of my car.
“They were shouting, hitting my car and pointing their guns.
“In less than six seconds they had taken me from the drivers seat and put me in the boot,” said Chapman, who is the Security Manager for Brettenwood Coastal Estate.
“I tried to figure out where we were going, but lost track after they drove onto a dirt road.”
After about five minutes into the drive, Chapman realised he still had his phone in his pocket.
He managed to send his location and a message for help to his family group.
“After what seemed like 15 minutes, they stopped the car.
“I thought to myself ‘this is it, they are going to leave me here in the car or set it alight with me inside’.
The hijackers got out the car, opened the boot and told him to climb out.
“They pointed the gun at my chest and my back, shoving me towards the boot but at the same time, telling me to run.”
Eventually Chapman made a run for it and disappeared down a dirt road into what seemed like the middle of nowhere.
“I turned around and watched them jump back into my car and speed off.”
Chapman was left in a secluded area, but when he heard a plane coming in to land, he knew he was close to the airport.
Also read: Ballito hijacking, driver abandoned in Inanda
“When I finally reached a tar road I picked up signal and managed to contact the police and my dad who was already on his way.”
Twenty minutes later Chapman was greeted by flashing ambulance lights, followed by his father and sister.
“I think my calmness really scared the hijackers.
“Being in my profession I have learnt how to best handle these situations.
“I kept calm the whole time, but when I saw my family I just broke down.”
His car was discovered the next morning, with all doors open and the engine still idling.
Chapman feels the street light problem in and around Ballito has contributed to the threat of being hijacked as visibility is very poor on the Salt Rock off-ramp at night.
Hijacking: Ten vital points – according to the department of transport – to keep in mind:
- Most hijackings occur between 5pm and 8pm as people arrive home from work. Hijackers go for people who are laid-back and relaxed because they are easier targets.
- Hijackers also don’t like it when you park your car in a well-lit environment or unpack your stuff where everyone can see you.
- People who communicate in advance when they will get home at night are safer than those who do not.
- Always ensure that your doors are locked and your windows closed. A bonus is having smash-and-grab protection installed. Hijackers will either take the car when you are opening the gate or break your window at an intersection.
- Hijackers also avoid taking cars with a number of people in them because they know that their target may not be vulnerable. Avoid driving alone, especially at night.
- When at an intersection at night, always be observant of what’s going on around you. Hijackers want to strike when you least expect it.
- Hijackers may follow targets on numerous occasions before they strike. Varying your route makes life difficult for them.
- Do not take advice from just anyone at night about your car. This is often a strategy to distract you before you are hijacked.
- Look confident when driving. Don’t look distracted or lost. People who look like they know where they are going are less likely to be hijacked.
- Don’t leave enough space for a car to cut in front of your vehicle. Criminals don’t want you to know this one because they are working on cornering you at one point or another.
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