When you live in South Africa, experiencing a hijacking is a very real threat. Our country has the highest number of hijacking incidents, or carjackings as they are referred to in other parts of the world, per year. And while the latest Tracker stats show that there was a 13% decrease in car crime in the second half of last year, the decrease in hijackings was not nearly as significant. Only 5% fewer hijackings were reported when compared to the same period in 2019.
This makes it essential for every South African to be alert and as safe as possible when driving. That’s why we’ve put together this list of best practices for what you can and should do before, during, and after a hijacking. These will see you reducing your risk of attack, ensuring your safety when it does happen, and seeing those to blame put to justice.
5 Ways to Prevent a Hijacking
The Tracker stats show that hijackings most commonly take place Wednesdays to Fridays, between the hours of 4pm and 8pm. This is the time that most drivers would be making their ways home from work. Hijackers most often target cars that are carrying big loads. It’s also very common for them to follow people from ATMs after withdrawing large sums of cash.
However, these best practices should be kept in mind whatever day and time you might be driving, and wherever you might be coming from, to reduce your risk of getting hijacked.
Be aware of your surroundings when you’re driving.
Regularly check your mirrors and make note of the cars around you and behind you. If you feel a car might be following you, start making your way towards a police station just in case.
Don’t get distracted.
Talking on your cellphone when you’re driving can be dangerous in more ways than one. Even with a hands-free system, when you’re on the phone, it’s easier to become distracted. Hijackers will often use this to their advantage.
Be particularly vigilant when you’re getting into and out of your car.
These are the times when you’re often most vulnerable to a hijacking. It’s a lot easier for someone to attack you when your car is stationary. Make sure that there’s no one suspicious around you before getting in or out of the car. Also be sure to lock the doors, and either start driving or make your way inside as quickly as possible.
Make sure someone knows where you’re going.
Whether it’s a family member, a boyfriend, a housemate or a friend, let someone know where you’re going when you get into your car. That way you can ensure that someone is on alert if it takes you longer than expected to get back.
Leave a gap whenever you stop.
You want to give yourself space to get away quickly if someone tries to get into your car. If you’re stopped right behind the car in front of you, it will be more difficult to reverse and get away. If you’ve left a gap, you can turn your steering wheel and hit the accelerator. Often before the hijacker even has the opportunity to get in.
5 Tips to Keep Yourself Safe During a Hijacking
Once a hijacker has made their way into your car, you want to make sure that you get through the encounter as safely as possible. Often the hijackers only care about your car, and won’t want to harm you. But if they view you as a threat, or someone who could cause trouble, they won’t hesitate to use force. Here are just a few tips for coming across as unthreateningly as possible during a hijacking situation.
Don’t resist.
If the hijacker gives you instructions, follow them as closely as you can. Fighting against them will put you in a more dangerous situation.
Say as little as possible.
You do want to humanise yourself, showing that you are a person with a family that cares about you. But more importantly, you don’t want to antagonise or annoy the hijacker. If they become annoyed, they’ll be a lot more likely to lash out.
Don’t make eye contact.
This can often come across as threatening. Especially since looking your attacker directly in the eye could be taken as you trying to memorise their features. If the hijacker thinks you may be able to identify them, they may take drastic action.
Remain calm.
It’s easier to remember details when you’re calm than it is when you’re frightened. Try to remain as calm as you possibly can, and take in the details around you. While you shouldn’t look your attacker in the eye, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t notice things like the clothes they’re wearing, accents that they might have, or features that you can recognise in the rest of their body language. Also, take note of where you are and which direction you’re going in. This will help you to…
Exit the car if you get a chance to.
The hijacker might stop at a robot or slow down significantly, giving you the chance to get out. If you do, make sure to put as much distance between you and the hijacker as you possibly can. Run in the opposite direction. And if you get the chance to get off the road, do so. It will make it more difficult for them to follow you.
3 Steps to Take When a Hijacking Ends
You’ve made your way out of the car, and are no longer in direct danger. But the scenario isn’t over quite yet. There are a few steps that you should take after a hijacking to ensure that your car is recovered, and your attackers are brought to justice.
Find your nearest police station.
You’ll want to report the hijacking as quickly as possible. The sooner it’s reported, the more likely you are to retrieve your valuables, your car, and possibly even catch the people behind your attack.
Contact your vehicle tracking company.
If you have car insurance, you’ll often be asked to put some form of tracking system in your car. Contact either the tracking company directly, or your insurance company. They will be able to get a lead on your car as quickly as possible and help you recover it.
Hire a private investigator.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of cases are reported to the police every day. You want to make sure that your case gets the priority that it deserves. One of the best ways to do this is to hire a private investigator. They can collect the evidence that the police need. A private investigator will be able to speak to witnesses and track down any possessions that may have been taken. Plus they can focus on getting the information you need to bring your attackers to justice.
If you’ve been in a hijacking and are looking for a private investigator to take on your case, look no further. With decades of experience as a private eye as well as a police investigator, I have the resources at my disposal to give your hijacking the attention and focus that it deserves. Put the awful experience in the past, where it belongs, knowing that your attackers are behind bars. Contact me today.
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