South Africa has climbed to sixth place globally in kidnappings for ransom, a concerning trend evident in insurance data and verified by OLEA, a leading insurance provider.
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The World Population Review highlighted this surge, notably in ‘express kidnappings,’ brief abductions rather than prolonged captivity, noted Lizette Lancaster, manager of the Crime and Justice Information Hub at the Institute for Security Studies.
‘It emerged about 10 years ago.’
Approximately 75% of reported kidnapping cases to law enforcement involve this swift and targeted form of abduction, with an average of 46 to 50 incidents reported daily, a worrying statistic, Lancaster emphasises.
Traditionally, perpetrators detained victims to obtain bank cards, resorting to multiple ATM stops for fund withdrawals.
However, with banking apps accessible via smartphones, such crimes have escalated.
‘This is almost an easier form to get money.’
Lancaster underscores that these kidnappings exploit victims caught off guard, with opportunistic perpetrators seizing individuals at the wrong place and time.
Given the spontaneous nature of these crimes and the vulnerability of unsuspecting victims, law enforcement faces significant challenges in effectively combating them, she adds.
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