The Workshop covered the following :
Criminals and their Tactics :
- Criminals work either on their own or as part of a gang, most gangs of which work for syndicates
- Criminals approach their lifestyle as if it were a profession, affording it almost the same amount of planning and commitment, particularly as motives predominantly revolve around money
- Anti-theft devices make simply stealing the cars harder
- Although hijacking is far more risky for the criminal, the financial gain makes it worth it
- Hijacking is considered a petty crime so, if caught, the criminal would face a lesser sentence
- Hijacked vehicles can be sold for an instant R5 000.00 (sometimes more if "ordered" by a syndicate) and can take less than 2 hours to be stripped by the "chop shop"
- Spontaneous - usually carried out by an opportunist who spots a negligent victim
- Planned - a specific car "ordered" (usually through a syndicate). This particular type of hijacking usually requires observing the target's routine for some time first.
- When target is leaving/returning home
- Entrance/exit to place of work
- Intersections
- Petrol stations
- Outside shops, roadhouses, etc
- Parking lots/garages at shopping centres
- Narrow, isolated streets
- High-crime areas
- Popular locations eg. "lovers' lane", etc
- Dressing up as police officers, hitch-hikers, car guards, street hawkers at intersections NB If a police vehicle instructs you to pull off the road, indicate to them that you are going to drive to the nearest police station and they should follow
- Pretending to be good Samaritans, eg. trying to pull you off the road by telling you your wheel is flat
- Faking an accident scene NB In the case of arriving at an accident scene, never leave your vehicle. Stay alert and call an ambulance from your car.
- Pretending to need directions
- Bumping into your vehicle
- The hijacker will observe your routine and plan ahead - make a habit of occasionally changing your route, etc. particularly if your routine involves things like banking large amounts of cash on set days, etc
- Hijackers will often work in a team so that one members can distract the victim
- They will always target the driver as he/she has control of the vehicle
Weapons most often used :
- Firearms (including homemade firearms)
- Knives
- Batons
- Stones
- Tear gas or pepper spray
- Spark plug (to shatter the window)
Safety and Prevention :
- Always plan your route ahead of time and identify alternate routes in the event that you find your safety feeling compromised
- Avoid routine
- Always tell colleagues/family where you are going and which route you will be going
- When approaching your vehicle, have your keys ready in your hand and scan the area around your vehicle. Enter and exit vehicle as quickly as possible
- Leave your window/s (particularly the passenger window) with a 5-10cm gap. This reduces the severity of the shattered window and might deter a hijacker.
- Advise colleagues/family when you have arrived at your destination
- Make a habit of scanning your surroundings for possible threats, particularly when at intersections, and where possible advise your passenger to do the same.
- Refrain from using a cellphone while in your car. Apart from being illegal, it is a driver's biggest distraction.
- Always keep your cellphone on your body, in case of being thrown out of the car
White : when you are in your comfort zone, distracted and oblivious to your surroundings
Yellow : you are remotely aware but not perceiving danger
Orange : you are alert of non-specific danger
Red : you are concerned and have reason to believe there is clear and present danger
Black : you are under attack
Your vehicle :
- To be kept in good working order
- All valuables to be kept out of sight
- Weapons to be kept within reach
- Doors to be kept locked
- Reduce your speed slowly
- Pre-select your gears
- Maintain a "creep" distance between yourself and the car in front of you
- Constantly survey the area
- Allow for a survival space between yourself and the car in front of you once you have stopped
- Mentally prepare an escape plan
- When stopped, leave your car in first gear with your hand on the pulled up handbrake and your foot on the accelerator
- Raise both hands to shoulder height (never higher as this draws attention to yourself which in turn draws attention to the hijacker who will then panic and react)
- Always keep your right hand up in defence position
- Use only your left hand when given instructions - release your seatbelt with your left hand and unlock and open your door with your left hand
- Slowly get out of your vehicle
- Tell the hijacker what you are doing as you perform each action
- Exit to the right, rear of the vehicle
- Do not attempt to make eye contact with the hijacker but instead keep your focus down while trying to observe any marks of identification
- Always answer the hijacker truthfully
What to do if the hijacker has a firearm pointed at you :
- Do not do anything to alarm the hijacker (eg. scream, try to hit the firearm from him)
- Never initiate any movement without instruction from the hijacker
- Obey all instructions
- Do not make eye contact
- Move your hands only when instructed
- Get to a safe place and report the incident immediately
- Seek professional intervention, particularly if a child/children were in the vehicle at the time
- Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
We wish to thank Robert for his hugely informative workshop and encourage
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