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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.

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 

ONLY ACT ON INSTRUCTION 
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES UNCLIP YOUR SAFETY BELT WITHOUT PERMISSION 

Fate of driver 

• 12% left behind 
• 26% taken with 
• 11% shot 

Method applied to driver to get control of vehicle 

• 93% Pointed by firearm 
• 7% Killed in vehicle 

Reasons for the manner in which victim was treated (Above-mentioned) 

• 42% To maintain/get control 
• 26% To intimidate 
• 24% Preventative measure for own safety 
• 8% Victim resisted 

Elapsed time from the actual hi-jacking until getting rid of vehicle 

• 27% 30 minutes and less 
• 19% 30 minutes to 1 hour 
• 4% 1hour to 1 hour 30 minutes 
• 8% 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 
• 23% 4 to 9 hours 
• 19% 12 hours to 1 month 

Preferred make of vehicle in Gauteng and resale value in ZAR 
(In order of popularity) 

[CRA note: we are trying to get information to see whether there are any change to this list]

Updated October 2007