Security groups and insurers have highlighted that car hijackings were on the rise for last year and the first half of 2024 and that bright or unusual colours are no longer a deterrent for car thieves.
Fidelity ADT has confirmed that within the Fidelity footprint, the number of hijackings recorded during the first half of 2024 increased compared to ‘the corresponding periods during 2023 and the second half of 2023’, as reported by BusinessTech.
Also read: Two arrested at UCT with car-breaking tools amid VW theft trend
According to data from the South African Police Services (SAPS), there are 66 reported car hijackings every day, which marks a 34% increase compared to pre-pandemic data.
Statistics have indicated that approximately half of these incidents occurred in Gauteng, while the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal each account for about 14% of the total.
However, the data only covers ‘hijackings involving violence or coercion against the driver’.
In addition, the data revealed that there are approximately 10 000 vehicle thefts reported per quarter, which amounts to a total of about 40 000 thefts annually.
Vehicle hijackings have been described as ‘largely a business driven by demand and supply’, which results in hijackers targeting specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market.
According to the Fidelity footprint, the top five vehicles currently being targeted are:
- White Nissan Almera
- White VW Polo
- White Toyota Hi-Ace
- White Nissan NP200
- Grey/blue/white Toyota Corolla
Previously, white and silver vehicles were often targeted, as per the black market’s demand, which in turn reflects the mainstream market trends.
However, there has been an increased demand for non-traditional coloured vehicles on the road, which includes orange and yellow vehicles being targeted more regularly.
Bright-coloured cars were traditionally considered unpopular among hijackers as they ‘stood out easily’ compared with silver or white cars, which made it more difficult to hide from tracking companies and the authorities.
Cartrack, a prominent car-tracking company, has stated that the theft of car components has become more widespread than the theft of entire vehicles.
This trend on the black market is driven by the ‘high demand for affordable, readily available parts’, as these parts are easier to conceal and harder to trace than the cars themselves, which could explain why colour isn’t much of a deterrent anymore.
Another factor that contributes to these crimes is experienced syndicates with designated chop shops that can dismantle any car in minutes.
Cartrack noted that criminals steal vehicle components effortlessly, with four wheels that can be removed in five minutes, airbags and tailgates in two minutes and a battery that can be disconnected in as little as one minute.
Additionally, Catrack noted that airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels, and tyres are among the most stolen vehicle parts.
There have also been reported incidents of stolen vehicles that were later found completely stripped, indicating the ‘lucrative trade value’ of illegal chop shops and stolen car parts, which has been estimated to be about R442 million, according to Cartrack.
This practice is seen as a ‘quicker and more profitable alternative’ to reselling stolen vehicles.
Also read:
Hijacked SAPS vehicle fatally collides with truck on Baden Powell
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