It has become increasingly difficult to steal motor vehicles, with all the anti-theft devices, such as immobilisers, gear-locks, etc.
These steps have resulted in a dramatic increase in vehicle hijackings.
The hijacker has the element of surprise and this is a concern.
The increasing retrenchment and the high unemployment figures are also factors.
This is easy earned money and the already well-established syndicates will buy these vehicles from the hijacker.
Vehicle hijacking is an organised business, run according to business principles and based on thorough planning.
Specific vehicles with specific characteristics are ordered beforehand and efforts have to be made to meet the requirements of such orders.
These vehicles will then be resold to the already predetermined buyer.
The hijacked vehicles that are not sold to buyers in South Africa, will be smuggled out of the country.
These vehicles will be sold in our neighbouring countries or exchanged for drugs.
On August 28, a man was driving along a dirt road passing through the Jackaroo Plots when suddenly one of his car windows just shattered.
The man pulled the car off to the side of the road to inspect the damage, but once out of the car noticed that he had been followed by a white bakkie.
The moment the man left the safety of his car, the occupants of the white bakkie started shooting at him.
“I ran into the bushes until I stopped hearing anything coming from that direction. When I went to look, my car was gone,” the man explained.
On August 27, at approximately 20:00, a man was driving through Klipfontein.
He stopped at a robot and suddenly heard a loud smash.
He quickly realised that his window had been hit out by an unknown man.
Within minutes the unknown window-breaker and two accomplices were inside of the car with the man.
They told him to drive to the nearest ATM.
Upon arriving, they demanded the man’s cheque card and pin (which he gave to them).
One of the men went to withdraw money, but upon returning to the waiting car informed his accomplices that the man’s bank account is empty.
The three men then beat the owner of the car senseless, before leaving him at the side of the road.
