Whether witnessed in person or via camera, the heart drops at the sight of one’s asset wheeling away down the street.
A video taken by the CCTV cameras of a Gregor Street convenience store demonstrates the ease with which criminals operate. Aided by accomplices, it takes the thief under 50 seconds to gain access to the vehicle, start the engine and make off with another person’s possession. Taken just after 7pm on Thursday, 27 May, the nagging feeling of stress, anxiety and anger continues long after the video has stopped.
Watch here:
The incident is just one of thousands of vehicle-related crimes to have occurred in Gauteng in 2021, as confirmed by provincial police this week. Since January this year, 2 328 carjacking crimes were reported, and 4 845 motor vehicle or motorbike theft cases were opened. Additionally, 5 739 incidents of theft out of or from a motor vehicle were reported, bringing the total of personal motorised transport related crimes to 12 912, a staggering average of 140 per day.
These disappointing statistics reveal the danger of either falling victim to or being a target of criminal activity. Below are several points of advice that could help prevent being added to the above numbers:
• Exercise caution at parking areas, and report unknown and suspicious persons or motor vehicles to the police.
• Avoid leaving or parking vehicles for a long time at areas or streets that are not well lit.
• Ensure that all vehicles and motorbikes are locked and safely parked inside premises.
• Do not leave valuables in plain sight.
• If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, backing into your driveway will also make it more difficult for a thief to tow it away.
• Garage your vehicle if you have one, and always remember to lock the garage door.
• Do not leave the registration or title documents in your vehicle.
• Always use your emergency brake when parking, which ensures safety and also makes it difficult for a thief to tow your vehicle away.
• Etch your vehicle’s identification number on car windows and major parts. This procedure makes vehicles and parts more easily traceable when stolen, or make use of the latest data dot technology.
• Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time.
• Engrave expensive accessories like car stereos, cellular phones, compact disc changers, external speakers so that the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
• Drop business cards, address labels or other identification inside vehicle doors to help assist law enforcement in identifying your vehicle or parts.
• Replace easily accessible door lock assemblies.
• Install an anti-theft device or system on your vehicle as an extra deterrent.
