Five easy ways to get hijacked

Have you ever considered getting hijacked? Since KZN has caught up with Gauteng in the “highest reported incidence of hijacking” race, you no longer need to trek up to Johannesburg for what could be a once in a lifetime experience.

According to the Pretoria based National Hijack Prevention Academy’s Richard Rossouw, Durban or specifically Pinetown, is the new place to see and be seen in hijacking circles. Rossouw is a former police officer with extensive experience in dealing with hijacking and was kind enough to let the Courier in on a few secrets to getting hijacked in South Africa:

1. Dawdle in the driveway

Most hijackings take place in residential driveways with easily accessible escape routes, so be sure to turn up the volume of the car radio and forget about your surroundings.

Your hijackers will thank you for thick shrubbery around your driveway where they can hide and if you really want to be popular you should make sure the driveway is nice and dark too.

Do not worry if your animals do not greet you at the gate as usual; they probably just had an exciting day and went to bed early.

If you still have a manual gate that you have to open yourself, consider yourself lucky because this gives your hijackers more time to get to you. Be sure to leave the car door open and the key in the ignition. Drive all the way down the driveway and into the garage before walking back to close the gate.

2. Head in the clouds

Only start looking for your keys in your handbag when you reach your car. Do not waste time inspecting the car before unlocking as you could foil your hijackers plan before they have a chance to execute it.

3. Easy pickings

Always drive alone with your windows down and doors unlocked, especially late at night or during the early hours of the morning when the roads are quiet and hijackers can do their job uninterrupted. You also want to leave your cell phone, wallet and handbag on the passenger seat.

4. Stranger danger

Any hitchhiker is a potential hijacker so always pick up strangers.

You know you have hit the jackpot when coming across obstacles in the road like rocks and tyres. This is a very effective and popular strategy used by hijackers to get people to stop to “clear the road”. Hijackers then jump into the road from behind the bushes and relieve you of your car.

5. Go along for the joy ride

Once the hijacker has taken the bait,  the trick to getting the full hijacking experience is to lose your temper and threaten or challenge the hijacker. Do not do anything he tells you and fight for your vehicle, especially if he has a weapon.

Make every effort to reach for all your valuables and make a lot of eye contact to make the hijacker feel threatened and increase the chances of harming you and your passengers.

Hijackers enjoy a challenge. Do not spoil the fun by showing them how the car’s anti-hijacking system works; rather let them take you along for the ride.