PHOTO: Mia Moorcroft
DESPITE popular belief that Toyota bakkies and SUVs are the most prominently stolen vehicles, Tracker operative Wynand Swart says ‘anything with four wheels’ is being hijacked in Zululand.
Speaking to residents at the Meerensee Community Police Forum (CPF) meeting on Monday evening, Swart stated that while silver and white cars are often preferred as easier targets to re-spray and disguise, anyone could be a victim of hijacking.
‘If a criminal wants your vehicle, he’ll have it,’ said Swart.
‘And it is not worth your life – never fight the situation.
‘If a hijacker says ‘get down’, then ‘get down’.
‘They are already on eggshells looking out for cops and security staff so do not give them any reason to act rashly by making sudden movements or scratching for your pockets.’
But Swart said motorists can prepare their vehicles for the possibility of a hijacking.
‘Make sure you have a dependable tracking device installed in your car and check to see if it works by phoning the tracking company.
‘You should also know what type of device it is and if it is works via either radio towers or cell phone networks to inform your trackers as soon as the vehicle was taken.
‘And to safeguard your car even more, you can install an additional alarm system so that when hijackers remove the one they know of, another alarm goes off to draw attention.’
Following numerous reports of hijackers stealing cars under the pretence of being members of the police, Swart advised to ‘follow your gut feeling’.
‘If a vehicle flashing blue lights wants you to turn off, but it seems suspicious, put your hazards on, slow down and drive to the nearest petrol filling station where there are always surveillance cameras.
‘Ask the person stopping you for their SAPS appointment certificate – it is your civic right to do so to protect yourself against any false cop.
‘You can also phone 10111 to double-check the person’s identity.’
