South Africa sees an increase in vehicle theft and hijackings
South Africa is known to have a high crime rate. To see reports that there has been a recent spike in the number of hijackings and vehicle thefts reported across the country is concerning, to say the least. However, it seems that certain car models are more likely to be targeted than others.
Top Auto recently published findings that the four vehicles most-frequently targeted by criminal syndicates include:
Other vehicles on the ‘hot list’ include the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Figo, as well as the Nissan NP200 and Navara.
There has been a notable increase in thefts of the above models, luxury SUVs, and generally newer cars, and many of these stolen vehicles are being moved across the border before they can be recovered.
Similarly, the latest crime statistics produced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) reveal that certain areas in Gauteng have seen an increase of up to 63.5% in vehicle thefts within the last quarter. The most-common locations for these vehicles to be targeted include shopping malls, schools, and religious events.
Countrywide, the top ten vehicle theft locations are reported as follows:
Stats SA reported at the end of August 2022 that the number of hijacking victims increased from 64 000 in 2020/21 to 134 000 in 2021/22. The estimated 137 000 hijackings occurring in 2021/22 affected 134 000 (0,3%) persons aged 16 years and older. About 63% of the victims reported some or all incidences to the police.
Keyless entry exploit
Vehicles with keyless entry are a major concern, as criminals are using relay devices to exploit the keyless entry system to gain access to and start the vehicle.
Top Auto explains that fobs (small electronic devices used to access vehicles) with keyless technology make use of a “rolling pin” to verify that the fob is, in fact, connected to that specific unit. The pin is synchronised with the car so that when the key transmits the signal, it can validate it and unlock the doors.
This system is able to resynchronise itself in the event that the fob is accidentally activated away from the vehicle, such as when the owner presses the fob by accident.
Unfortunately, this presents a vulnerability for thieves and hackers as it is possible to exploit the resynchronisation process of a consecutive sequence of codes, which will reset the car’s list of stored codes and therefore validate the thief’s signals.
This can potentially be used to lock and unlock the car doors, and even start the engine.
What you can do to keep safe
Owners and drivers of high-end vehicles with special electronic features must take the necessary precautions against the possibility that their car is targeted by criminal syndicates.
These precautions include:
Your insurance
Keep your car insurance in mind and ensure that all your additional security features are specified against the vehicle so that you are not left out of pocket in the event of a total loss.
Personal safety
Your own safety and that of your family is the most important thing. Never compromise that for an item that is covered by insurance. Your vehicle can be replaced, you cannot.
If you would like more information, speak to one of our knowledgeable brokers today. Simply email us at info@dwdv.insure or call us on 014 592-1077.