ANTI-HIJACKING TIPS

One of the highest crimes in South Africa is hijackings. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are travelling alone or with family to ensure you stay safe.

Drivers must not wait in the road or in their driveways if they suspect they are being followed. Wait for any cars to pass you and wait until the car is a far distance away before entering your property. If you have a panic button or a mobile security app, have it on and on hand just in case.

If you have children in the car, the youngest child should be seated behind the driver and the oldest to the left. The National Hijack Prevention Academy recommends this. The reason for this is if you are hijacked and need to get out of the car, you can move quickly from the driver’s door to the door directly behind it. You can reach across the eldest child to unstrap the younger child. The eldest child can cling to you as you remove them both together.

Become more alert the closer you get to home, checking for strangers or strange cars in their street. Turn your radio off, put your cellphone down, tell the kids to be quiet and concentrate on your surroundings as you approach home. Please report anything suspicious to your security provider or the SAPS immediately.

Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because you live in a complex with guards. We have seen incidents of hijackings right in front of the guardhouses at complex entrances. You can easily be followed into your complex so always remain vigilant. Research shows that most people relax the closer they get to home and this is often when they are most vulnerable.

Practice these tips on a daily basis. Don't ever get into a mentality that something like this won't happen to you. It is when you least expect it and are off of your guard when this happens.

Take care and be safe.