Of these numbers, sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes were among the most in demand, accounting for 2,754 thefts, while bakkies followed closely behind, accounting for 1,824 thefts. What do these numbers tell us about which vehicles are the most stolen?
If you’ve ever listened to Tracy Chapman, you’ll know she knows a thing or two about fast cars, and so do car thieves. Because of how fast they can travel, they are a hijacker's dream getaway car, making them high-demand deliveries.
South Africa is home to fuel prices that are constantly on the rise, which increases the demand for fuel saving vehicles. This also impacts the demand for them on the black market, with criminals targeting these vehicles to resell them.
Now that we’ve gone through the main features that make certain cars high-risk, let’s iron out the details; what are some common reasons these vehicles are stolen?
What are the most common reasons for car theft?
If we were to go through a list of all the reasons why cars are stolen, we’d be stuck together for the whole day. So let’s look at the top three reasons for car theft:
Resale value:
If a car is in high demand, its resale value is just as high, and this applies to black market sales too.
Export market:
Many cars are stolen with the purpose of being taken across the border and sold at a higher price. Just last year alone, South Africa imported 1,326,000 used cars, and of these, at least 5% were stolen. But the number of stolen cars crossing the border is even higher. The SAPS reports that about R4.9 billion worth of vehicles are taken across the border each year.
Vehicle parts:
Most of the time, when a vehicle is stolen, it isn’t to resell it but rather to strip it for its parts. Stripping vehicles for their valuable parts as opposed to the entire thing, which can be more lucrative than selling the entire vehicle, has led to an increase in the number of chop shops. This is a place where stolen vehicles are dismantled for their parts to be sold or used to repair other stolen vehicles.
Vehicle parts theft is becoming a bigger and more serious issue, and it’s not just your classic, balaclava-wearing criminals that are behind it. It’s the mechanics too.
News flash: Mechanics are in on car part theft too
It’s not just the car thieves now, but mechanics are dipping their toes in the parts theft industry. Have you ever taken your car to the mechanic, but it returned in a worse state? If your answer is yes, you might’ve fallen victim to a crooked mechanic. Dishonest mechanics involved in this will take other parts out of your car while repairing it, then replace those parts with faulty, cheaper ones.
A story shook social media users last year when a driver shared his experience with a mechanic. He had taken his car in to get his gearbox repaired, but was shocked to hear what the mechanic instructed him to do.
“My mechanic said to me: ‘Go rent the car you have then come to me and exchange the gearbox,” wrote the X user. Essentially, he was instructed to rent a similar vehicle as the one he had brought in for repairs and then bring it back so that the mechanic could exchange his faulty gearbox with the one from the rented vehicle. This shows one of multiple ways that car parts can be stolen even without the vehicle itself being stolen.
With this, the question arises: Which car parts are being targeted?
What are the most stolen car parts?
Cars have a number of components, some of which are more expensive than others. As important as they all are, there are a few parts that stand out from the crowd and are wanted by car thieves. Let’s explore them:
Wheels and tyres:
Wheels and tyres are extremely expensive, especially if you want good quality ones. The high price of these vehicle parts has created a high demand for them on the black market. What’s more, they are simple to remove. Changing a tyre takes an average of 30 minutes, so the process is even faster if all you have to do is remove a tyre and not replace it. This can actually take anywhere from five to ten minutes.
Car batteries:
What makes batteries a hot commodity is how simple they are to remove and then sell and how untraceable they are. All thieves have to do is get the hood of your car open, then cut the battery cable. This helps them disarm any car alarms, ensuring that car owners are not alerted to what’s happening. All of this can be done in just over a minute, which is why thieves often opt to steal them to resell.
Airbags:
These pieces of fabric are very expensive, as replacing them requires you to replace the sensors in your steering wheel too. This gives them a high resale value on the black market. Airbags are easy to remove and just as easy to reinstall. While thieves can break into your car and steal airbags in about two minutes, the main culprits in airbag theft are mechanics and repair shops, who will take out your airbags while repairing your vehicle and either replace them with a cheaper bag or not replace them at all.
Tailgates:
The prices of tailgates vary depending on which vehicle it’s for, but a second-hand bakkie tailgate can go for at least R2,500. This makes them high-demand parts to steal. A tailgate is very easy to remove, and this is for the owner's convenience. However, thieves now use this convenience to their benefit, which means it can be stolen quickly. Several videos show that they can be stolen in about 2 minutes. To make matters worse, most tailgates don’t have identification numbers, which makes tracing them extremely difficult.
The demand for these parts is so high that it’s actually higher than the demand for actual vehicles. But why?
Why are car parts stolen more than entire vehicles?
We’ve heard many stories of vehicles being stolen and then later being found completely stripped. JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla has shared that it takes criminals about 30 minutes to completely strip a vehicle. Chop shops have anestimated trade value of about R442 million, which makes stealing and reselling car parts a lucrative business on the black market, sometimes more lucrative and less traceable than reselling a stolen vehicle. Thieves also see it as an easier way of getting out of the admin of hiding and selling a stolen vehicle because it is barely recognisable.
These numbers are scary. So what can you do to keep your car parts safe and secure? Let’s find out exactly how.
How can you protect your parts from being stolen?
The first step to keeping your parts safe from theft is to keep your entire car safe. For these parts to be taken, thieves need to first steal your car. Here are our top tips for keeping it in safe hands, even when it’s not always in your hands.
Double-check that your vehicle is locked:
This may sound pretty obvious, but we live in a fast-paced world where we’re always on the move. This can cause you to slip up and forget to lock your vehicle, giving thieves an open invitation to steal it. So always take that extra second to double-check that your doors are locked.
Keep your valuables out of sight:
Your Louis Vuitton bag may be a prized possession that you love showing off, but it shouldn’t be taking the spotlight while you’re driving. Thieves are always on the lookout for valuable items in vehicles, especially if all they have to do to get their hands on them is break your window. They can also break into your boot, so make sure your belongings are secured before even leaving the house or office.
Park in visible, well-lit areas:
When you are not in your vehicle, there is an increased risk of theft. Avoid dimly-lit, unsecured parking, as this makes your vehicle an easy target. Opt for parking in a well-lit area with security and CCTV cameras, as this significantly lowers the chances of your vehicle being stolen.
Avoid driving in high-risk areas and hijacking hotspots:
While your car can be stolen from just about anywhere, there are areas that take the risk up a few notches. Here are the top ten hijacking hotspots, according to data from the SAPS:
Nyanga, Cape Town
Harare, Cape Town
Olievenhoutbosch, Tshwane
Phillipi East, Cape Town
Ivory Park, Ekurhuleni
Midrand, Johannesburg
Umlazi, Durban
Tembisa, Tshwane
Pretoria West, Tshwane
Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Don’t be lured out of your car: If they can’t force their way into your vehicle, car thieves will find a way to lure you out of it. Thieves are known for placing various obstacles in the road, such as rocks, spikes, and even boxes, to block your way. This forces you to get out of the car to remove the obstacle, but as soon as you leave, they take the opportunity to jump into your vehicle and drive off.
Don’t connect to wifi networks you don’t trust:
Vehicles are advancing, and so are hijacking and car theft techniques. Thieves no longer need to break your windows to get into your car; they only need a laptop and a signal device. So keep your vehicle’s software up-to-date and avoid connecting to untrusted wifi networks, as this can help you keep car hackers at bay.
Now, with all these tips we just listed, you may be wondering, why we would include a tracking device? Well, it can help you protect your vehicle in more ways than one. Let’s get into these nifty devices and unpack all there is to them.
What is a GPS tracker?
GPS (the abbreviation for Global Positioning System) is a navigation system that uses satellites to provide accurate vehicle location updates and navigation tips. A GPS tracker conveniently gives you access to this technology. By making use of GPS, this device helps you:
Unlock unparalleled safety with real-time updates
Closely monitor your vehicle usage
Now, the market is full of GPS trackers you can choose from. This can make choosing a tracking device quite difficult. So, let’s make it easier for you by helping you find the perfect GPS tracking device in South Africa.
How to look for the right GPS tracker
When you’re looking for a GPS tracker, you need a solution that does way more than just track your vehicle. You need a device that:
☑️ Gives you real-time location updates from the comfort of your phone ☑️ Keeps an extra pair of eyes on your vehicle when you can’t ☑️ Unlocks proactive vehicle safety
If you’re ready to unlock these benefits, then Cartrack is the perfect choice for you.
Secure your vehicle's safety with Cartrack’s solutions
For thieves to access your car parts, they first need to steal your vehicle. With Cartrack’s solutions, you can give your vehicle a new level of protection. We help you do this with the following solutions:
At Cartrack, we work tirelessly to recover your stolen vehicle, but in the unfortunate event that we are unable to, you can claim up to R150 000 cash-back (Ts&Cs apply).
CarWatch:
Give your vehicle its own virtual car guard with CarWatch. Available via our Cartrack app, CarWatch takes a proactive approach to vehicle safety, giving you early detection of any unauthorised movements. The moment your ignition is turned on, or if there’s any suspicious movement without your authorisation, our 24-hour control room receives an alert. With this, the agent calls you to confirm if everything is in order and to figure out if your vehicle is in the process of being stolen.
Geofencing
Cartrack’s Geofence feature allows you to set virtual boundaries around specific areas and receive instant email or SMS notifications the moment your vehicle enters or exits them. For example, if you’re lending your vehicle to a loved one to go to the mall, you can create a geofence around the mall and receive instant notifications the moment they reach their destination safely. This gives you a new level of instant visibility and safety.
Keep your car parts safe, sound, and secured with Cartrack
Your car isn’t a car without its parts. With 20 years in the game and 2 million global subscribers, why not trust us to keep your car and its parts safe and sound?
Contact us today, and give every single part of your car the protection it deserves.
Car parts theft is taking Mzansi by storm, and you don’t want your car or parts exposed to the rain. Click here to find out how.
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