Crimes related to vehicles still very high

What the stats say about crime on the roads - October to December 2024 (see infographic)

• 4 807 carjackings were recorded – a year-on-year decrease of 19.5%
• On average 52 cars are hijacked each day
• There were 7 791 vehicle thefts – a decrease of 18.3%
• Hijacking of trucks decreased by 14%
• Theft out of or from vehicles declined by 12.9%
• There were 17 fewer cash-in-transit heists
• Drunk driving increased by 11.2%
• Road rage is in the top five for most common causes of violent crime
• Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were the top 3 provinces for vehicle crime
• Carjackings account for 56% of all vehicle crime (Tracker Crime Index)
• Theft accounts for 44% of vehicle crime (Tracker Crime Index)
• More vehicles are hijacked on Fridays and between 16:00 and 21:00 (Tracker Crime Index)
• Theft is mainly reported on Saturdays, also between 16:00 and 21:00 (Tracker Crime Index)
• Business-owned vehicles are twice as likely to be hijacked (Tracker Crime Index)
• In Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal more personal vehicles are stolen than hijacked, at 52% and 61%, respectively.
• Car jamming is one of the most prevalent crimes at shopping malls (Fidelity)
• During 2024, follow-home attacks were on the rise (Fidelity)

MasterDrive's recommendations on reducing the risk:

• Avoid dimly lit or isolated parking spots
• Reverse park so that exiting the parking space can be done faster and with a clearer visual field
• Ideally, it is safest to park against the wall and near a security presence
• Have your keys or fob in hand and put parcels in the boot without scratching through them or your bag
• Return home before dark whenever possible
• Stay alert and always observe your surroundings
• Stand in well-lit and populated areas when using e-hailing services and keep your phone out of sight
• Report all incidents to assist law enforcement track crime patterns
• Physically check your car door before walking away
• Stand in front of the door handle when locking the door to potentially block jammers especially if your keyless entry inhibits double checking the doors
• When placing your shopping in your boot, be aware of people around you who may be watching
• Lock laptops, bags and other valuables in the boot when exiting the vehicle
• Purchase a case for your key fob that prevents criminals from cloning it