Safety Tips - Hi-jacking

Some suggestions for enhancing your safety

HINTS TO DEAL WITH VEHICLE HIJACKINGS

Vehicle hijackings are an everyday occurrence that terrify many of us. There are some very simple precautionary steps that you can take to reduce the chances of being hi-jacked.

WHEN AM I THE MOST VULNERABLE?

The first thing to note is that by far the majority of hi-jackings take place in front of your residence.

At traffic lights
At a stop street or yield sign
At other intersections
In front of private residences
At business premises
At shops, post offices, telephone booths, etc
At filling stations
Victims sitting in parked cars
Victims forced off road by decoys
Victims parking, i.e. either starting cars or leaving/approaching parked cars
Victims stationery and working at the roadside, i.e.repairing telephone cables
While loading and offloading goods
By hitch-hikers
While taxis are loading/off-loading passengers
Unknown

7%
6%
1%
51%
5%
3%
1%
10%
4%
2%
2%
2%
1%
4%
1%

Simple steps you can take to reduce the chances of being hi-jacked

Take precautions:

Be familiar with your environment.
Get to know who belongs in the vicinity of your home or workplace, and who does not.
Keep your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary.
Lock all doors and close windows before driving off.
Try to vary your route to work, the gym – all places you travel to regularly.
Ensure all your mirrors are adjusted to give you an optimal all-round view of your surroundings.
Try to stop about 5m behind the car in front of you at a stop sign or traffic light – it makes for an easy getaway if trouble arises.

Don’t be fooled by:

False appeals for help.
“Accidents” such as having your car rammed from behind.
Someone trying to get help from a stationary car.
Your electric gates being jammed

How to reduce the risk

While there is no guarantee which action(s) will prevent hi-jacking, practising the following common sense techniques can reduce the risk:

When entering your vehicle and while driving:

Have your key ready, but not visible.
Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, check the back seat. Inspect the outside and inside of the vehicle before unlocking.
Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the shop, or work, and get a guard or policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger side. Many attackers surprise their victims by pulling them into their vans while they are attempting to get into their cars.
People have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping and just sit (making a phone call or making a list). DON'T DO THIS! A predator could be watching you. This is an opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side and attack you. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS.
Know your destination and directions to it, and be alert should you get lost.
Always drive with your windows and doors locked and/or closed.
Drive in the centre lane away from pedestrians where possible.
If possible, never drive alone.
Do not leave windows open more than 5cm.

When parking your vehicle:

Check your rear-view mirror to ensure that you are not being followed.
When returning home after dark, ensure that there is an outside light on, or have someone meet you at the door. [Subscribers to the CRA Community Security Scheme always have this option open to them.]
When exiting your vehicle, be cautious and aware of surrounding obstructions and shrubbery that may be concealing a hijacker.
Never sit in your parked car without being conscious of your surroundings. Sleeping in a stationery vehicle is particularly dangerous.
When approaching your driveway, be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles/persons.

PROFILE ON HI-JACKINGS – BIOGRAPHICAL DATA IN GAUTENG

This information was obtained during the interviewing of convicted hijackers. The figures mentioned are not accurate statistics but rather the perspective of the hijacker relative to his actions.

CRA note: We are not in a position to verify these stats or whether all the information remains valid over time (eg most frequent times of hi-jackings) but believe that it may be useful knowledge.

Demographics

98% are male
57% are Zulu speaking (Correlates with census demographics)
23% are Sotho speaking (Correlates with census demographics)
90% black
7% white
3% coloured

Age

33% 26 – 29 years
27% 22 – 25 years
20% 30 – 33 years

Criminal and Conviction history

60% were already involved in crime before committing the hi-jacking without being convicted
Average of 24 hi-jackings before being convicted

Reason for arrest

30% as result of detective work
70% either caught during the act, random SAPS patrols, private security companies or traffic police random searches

Marriage Status

78% of hi-jackers are unmarried (includes common law marriages)

Education

67% Grade 10 – 12
23% Grade 7 – 9
7% Grade 1 – 3
3% Grade 4 – 6

Flight of criminal

87% of hi-jackers returned to their personal homes after committing the crime

Profession

47% Unemployed
17% Artisan
17% Scholar
7% Labourer
7% Taxi driver
3% Security Guard
3% Public Servant
3% Transporter

Military History

73% no military training

Preference to other crimes

76% prefer hi-jacking than any other crime because more lucrative, quick money and conviction rate much lower

Time frames

Months

More likely to be hi-jacked: January, June, July, August
Less likely to be hi-jacked: December

Days

More likely: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays (double than any other day)
Less likely: Sundays

Times

16%   10h00 – 20h00 most likely to occur
14%   08h00 – 10h00
          20h00 – 04h00 less likely to occur

Areas hit by hi-jackings

30% Previously exclusive black areas
26% Previously exclusive white areas
22% Rural
11% CBD
11% Rural town

Transport of hi-jacker

59% will use a vehicle to get to the crime area
33% will get there on foot

Destination of hi-jacked vehicle

26% Syndicate
22% Specific client
15% Client still to be found to sell to
15% Only robbed for cargo inside
11% Personal use
11% To commit another crime

Weapon of choice

96% Handgun (the cocked sound intimidates the victim; concealment)
4% Single shot rifle

Percentage armed

96% of all hi-jackers are armed

Choice of victim

55% No distinction
30% Race
11% Easy target
4% Owner owes money

Number of victims per hi-jacking

48% 1 occupant
22% 3 occupants
19% 2 occupants

Gender of victim

89% no preference
11% rather men than women (women generally perceived to resist and scream)

Number of attackers

Average 3 hi-jackers involved per incident

Planning of hi-jacking

57% planned in which area crime is going to take place
43% not planned to take a specific vehicle, but planned the area
78% spent an hour in the area prior to hi-jacking
70% of hi-jackings take place outside the area where the criminal actually resides

Preferred escape routes

52% Highway
15% Main Road
15% Suburban streets
7% Back streets

Behaviour of criminal

70% of all hi-jackers never become angry

Hi-jackers opinions on how victims should react NB

100% agree that you should submit immediately
96% say you should raise your hands
41% say it is a good sign if you plead for your life
96% of hi-jackers prefer to open the door themselves
90% of victims were shot because they became hysterical and screamed
40% of hi-jackers prefer for you not to make eye contact
85% would rather search victim outside vehicle
22% prefer that the victim unclip safety belt
100% of hi-jackers focus on their own safety first. Will act/shoot if there is even a remote chance that they could be harmed
78% prefer that you not unclip your safety belt yourself. They would rather that you slide out of the belt to the passenger side or an accomplice will unclip it from the passenger door
100% agree that the unclipping of the seat belt is the main reason that victims are shot. The “click” sound of the safety belt unnerves the attackers and sounds like a firearm.
78% of hi-jackers do not prefer that victims unclip their belts with the left hand
93% prefer that you stand still outside to be searched once you have climbed out
25% prefer that you lie on your stomach after exiting the vehicle
75% prefer that you run or walk away
93% say that they would rather shoot a victim than risk being caught or harmed.
85% of victims will be allowed to go unhurt if they cooperate