“Rather be rude and drive away” – the savvy woman’s guide to not getting hijacked

Woman are percieved to be a soft target by criminals, often because our caring nature can make us vulnerable to attack.

We are also more likely to be caught unawears because we are thinking about what needs to be cooked for dinner and how we are going to finish Johnny’s school project instead of who may be approaching us in the parking lot.

“You can be a hijacking target just sitting in your parked car, minding your own business,” warns Warrant officer Manisha Maharaj-Marie from Tongaat SAPS.

She sent us the following safety tips to stay savvy on the road:

1. Always drive with windows and doors locked as stranger danger applies to adults too.
2. Be especially careful at traffic lights. Keep your handbag out of sight to minimise the chances of a smash and grab.
3. If a stranger wants to talk to you while you are in your car, only open your window 5cm to talk. If you feel uncomfortable rather be rude and drive away. You can also hoot to attract attention and frighten them off.
4. Don’t be a good Samaritan – hijackers may stage a minor accident so they can get you to stop. Rather drive past and call the police and emergency services. The same applies to branches and other obstuctions in the road. Rather do a u-turn then stop.
5. Likewise be cautious of ‘neighbourly strangers’ indicting that something is wrong with your vehicle and urging you to stop. Drive carefully to your nearest police station before stopping to check what may be wrong.
6. If strangers loiter near or at your driveway, rather drive past. If they hang about for a long time, report it to your nearest police station.
7. Do not pull into your driveway before opening your gate as a hijacker could park you in, preventing your escape.
8. If possible, put up a mirror against the front wall of your garage so that you can see if someone is following you into the garage and do not open your garage doors before your gates are closed.
9.  Avoid traveling alone, especially at night. A lift club limits the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
10. Vary the route you travel to work and back, if this is possible.
11. Look confident. If you are lost rather drive to a petrol garage or police station then risk asking a random stranger for directions.
12. Have all your emergency numbers saved on speed dial.

    

13. If your car is hijacked, don’t be brave. Don’t resist especially if the hijacker has a weapon. Give up your car, leave your possessions and move away, rather than getting into an altercation with the criminal.
14. Keep calm and stick to the plan. Check the route beforehand, have your keys ready before you approach your car and the same goes for your remote before you get to your gate.  Know exactly what you will do if someone attempts to hijack  you.

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