The crime stats for quarter three (October to December 2024) were recently released. MasterDrive notes that vehicle related crimes show an encouraging decrease in most spheres but remain very high. Other areas, however, saw increases including the carjacking of business owned vehicles.
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%
- Hijack of trucks decreased by 14%
- Theft out of or from vehicles declined by 12.9%
- There were 17 less cash-in-transit heists
- Drunk driving increased by 11.2%
- Road rage is in the top 5 for most common causes of violent crime
- Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal were the top 3 provinces for vehicle crime
- Carjackings are responsible 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 16h00 and 21h00. (Tracker Crime Index)
- Theft is mainly reported on Saturdays, also between 16h00 and 21h00. (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 deposit parcels into 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 and 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
