Top 4 Hijacking Safety Tips
Although it’s not something we like to give much thought to it, hijacking is a commonplace event in South Africa. With hijackings in SA reaching an all-time high as of last year’s crime statistics, it’s important to do what you can to minimise the risks associated with hijacking.
In this article, we’re going to share the top 4 tips that will help you and your family decrease the chances of experiencing a hijacking.
Steer clear of hijacking hotspots
Hijacking hotspot are areas, roads, towns, and cities that are most affected by hijackings.
An important, albeit overlooked, safety tip is to avoid highjacking hotspots. It’s a good idea to become accustomed to where these hotspots are so that you can plan your routes accordingly.
Here are the top 15 hijacking hot spots as of the latest SA crime statistics from SAPS:
Top 15 hijacking hotspots in South Africa
| Rank | Location | Hijackings: Jan – Mar 2021 | Hijackings: Jan – Mar 2022 | Change |
| 1 | Mamelodi East, Gauteng | 34 | 98 | +64 |
| 2 | Harare, Western Cape | 55 | 87 | +32 |
| 3 | Phillipi East, Western Cape | 49 | 64 | +15 |
| 4 | Alexandra, Gauteng | 36 | 61 | +25 |
| 5 | Nyanga, Western Cape | 107 | 60 | -47 |
| 6 | Orange Farms, Gauteng | 25 | 59 | +34 |
| 7 | Pretoria West, Gauteng | 36 | 55 | +19 |
| 8 | Tsakane, Gauteng | 33 | 55 | +22 |
| 9 | Moroka, Gauteng | 36 | 53 | +17 |
| 10 | Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng | 49 | 51 | +2 |
| 11 | Germiston, Gauteng | 21 | 49 | +28 |
| 12 | Tembisa, Gauteng | 54 | 48 | -6 |
| 13 | Akasia, Gauteng | 42 | 48 | +6 |
| 14 | Sandringham, Gauteng | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 15 | Kempton Park, Gauteng | 43 | 47 | +4 |
Approach your driveway/gate with caution
Criminals have become aware of the fact that motorists are very susceptible to hijackings when they’re returning home after a long day at work. As such, it has become the latest modus operandi for some time now.
A top safety tip is to be extra cautious when arriving home. Make the below part of your daily driving habits:
- Keep an eye out for vehicles following you.
- Survey your driveway before you enter your premises.
- Take note of any vehicles parked close to or around your address.
- Turn your radio off and be extra vigilant of your surrounding ~2km away from home.
Remember – whether you reside in a free-standing home or a gated complex, you need to practice the above; complexes are at just as much risk as a free-standing home.
Share your location with a friend or family member
In the event of a hijacking, you could be faced with a situation where calling for help might not be possible. If such a situation were to occur, you would need to have the necessary support to get you help.
A good idea is to share your live location and/or trip with a friend, family member or significant other. By doing this, someone will know where you are and if there were to be an anomaly in your trip, it would be noticed, and the correct action could be taken to get you the help you need.
Embrace technology
With the advancement in technology, we now have at our disposal the ability to request immediate help directly from our mobile phones.
With a crisis response app, you and your family can leverage the benefits of technology and get the help you need, when you need it most.
At the end of the day, the unfortunate reality is that hijackings are becoming more common in South Africa. But by practicing the above safety tips, you can decrease the likelihood of experiencing a hijacking and minimise the risks associated with them if one were to occur.
