As vehicle spiking has gained traction, more and more criminals have become aware of how ‘relatively simple’ the criminal act can be carried out.
Spiking refers to when sharp objects are placed on the road under the cover of darkness, in an attempt to ‘puncture car tyres and force motorists to pull over’, as reported by TopAuto.
Also read: The 10 cars that are least likely to be hijacked in South Africa
Once the motorists come to a complete stop, criminals would emerge from the bushes and rob the victims of their valuables. In extreme cases, victims would be kidnapped and taken to ATMs to withdraw cash.
To safeguard yourself from these types of thieves, the car-tracking firm Cartrack recommended that motorists follow these tips:
- Maintain a decent following distance
- Do not stop on the road for any objects
- It is best to avoid driving at night, especially on secluded freeways
- Whenever and whether possible, change lanes before passing under a bridge
- When the circumstances allow it, drive in the middle of two lanes
- Travelling at a reasonable speed in dangerous areas is recommended, preferably under 80kph
Additional safety precautions include staying in contact with your loved ones and notifying them of your whereabouts whenever you possibly can.
Installing a GPS tracking device that will ‘consistently broadcast your vehicle’s location’ to the tracking company is also a recommended safety precaution.
If you have R40 000 to spend, you can replace your regular tyres with bulletproof wheels, too, which can ‘keep driving for long distances’ even after the rubber is completely worn out.
Being wary of roadblocks at unusual hours and in odd locations are also something to keep in mind as this could be ‘another ploy’ to hijack your car and steal your valuables.
The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has identified the following roads as ‘hotspots for spiking crimes’ which include:
- N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp
- N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp
- N1 Polokwane and N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria
- N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate Golden Highway
- R21 freeway from OR Tambo International Airport to Pretoria
- R562 in Olifantsfontein
- N12 in Witbank, under the Merridale bridge
- N12 between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom
- N3 between Leondale and Barry Marais Road
- N17 between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road
What to do if the worst happens
In the case of when the preventative tactics fail and you end up hitting a spike, Cartrack warned that you should ‘avoid braking and pulling over’ at all costs.
Drive slowly and as far as possible to create distance between the perpetrators and yourself who are likely to be on foot.
When your car comes to a standstill, it is crucial that you do not stay seated, but instead ‘get out and run’ to the opposite side of the road to find a hiding spot while you can call for help.
‘Staying in the vehicle is what the thieves are hoping for because they want all your valuables, including your cell phone and bank card, so they can empty your bank account,’ said Cartrack.
‘This will also help you avoid getting kidnapped,’ Cartrack added.
Furthermore, sharing your live location with a friend or family member will help them to locate you faster.
In the scenario, if the thieves or any other potentially dangerous individual gets to you, someone will be able to trace you using your last known location. If you were unable to get away from your aggressors, the only thing left to do is to comply.
When the thieves approach you, lift both your hands up to show you are not calling for help or trying to take out a weapon, while following all commands.
Do not try to fight back, as this could motivate the attackers to become violent and cause harm.
Try to remain as calm as possible and don’t make sudden, unexpected movements that might ‘intimidate the thieves’ and escalate the situation.
Finally, it is important to take note of the ‘little details’ of the perpetrators without drawing too much attention to yourself.
This will give the police solid leads when you report the crime after the fact and the authorities investigate the crime.
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Picture: Conserv Security / Facebook