We are all aware of how unfortunate the state of vehicle crime is in the country. There are countless reports on how often it happens and how many people it impacts.
Something that many reports fail to address and often overlook is the mindset of the criminals and what circumstances lead them to commit these crimes.
In order for us to curb vehicle crimes we will need to go inside the mind of a criminal and learn deterrence measures that can be taken to avoid being their victim. Let’s find out all about this topic and how Cartrack can help prevent you from being a target of this crime.
The mind of a criminal is a complex place, where the motivations for certain actions are often different. There are many factors to consider when attempting to make sense of this situation. Let’s explore some of these possibilities that may be the cause of their criminal actions.
Different types of criminals use different methods based on whether or not they are professional criminals. Let’s see what the difference is between organised crime and opportunistic crime.
Organised Crime
Organised crime is usually made up of a syndicate of criminals who specialise in a specific vehicle crime. The unattended valuables in a vehicle entice them, with easy access made possible by the negligence of a driver. Such crimes are usually carried out in public places such as malls, petrol stations, and street parking.
Hijacking syndicates function similarly to drug cartels, with low-ranking criminals carrying out crimes. The people at the top of the organisation field orders from clients for specific vehicles, which are then relayed to the lower-ranking criminals who must do the job. After a hijacking, cars can be driven across the border to buyers or kept locally for parts, resale, or criminal use.
Opportunistic Crime
This type of crime is usually committed by people who are acting impulsively and taking advantage of the current circumstances. They are normally tempted by unattended valuables in a car and easy access due to a driver’s negligence. They tend to target vehicles in public areas.
Factors that make a vehicle an easy target are usually what attracts criminals. These are human error-based and are mistakes we have all made before, such as:
Most criminals that target cars don’t normally act randomly. There are some patterns to how and when they commit their crimes. Here are some factors that play a role in how they choose their targets.
Vehicle-related offences are many and varied. Some are more serious than others, with the chance of serious injury or even death. Here are the most common types of vehicle crimes:
This is one of the less dangerous vehicle crimes, where items are stolen from inside the car. This can happen with or without any passengers in the car. Common examples include smash-and-grabs and lock jamming.
This is the highest type of vehicle crime, numbering 19 409 cases in the reported period.
This is when a parked car is stolen, either through forcible measures of easy access due to unlocked doors. Common methods include hotwiring and keyless entry hacking.
According to SAPS, the theft of cars and motorcycles amounted to 7791 vehicles (page 10).
This is the most dangerous form of vehicle theft, where criminals forcibly take the car with the driver and sometimes with passengers inside. This is done with firearms and other assault weapons, leading to injury and sometimes death when drivers do not comply.
There were 4807 cases of hijacking in the reported period, averaging 52 vehicles a day.
Type of vehicles hijacked:
Protecting yourself from vehicle crimes requires you to put measures in place that will either act as a deterrence or prevention tactic. Let’s look at some things you can do to avoid becoming a target of vehicle crime:
There are a range of technological defences that are used to deal with vehicle crime. These include: car alarms, immobilisers, and vehicle tracking services like Cartrack, which come with stolen vehicle recovery.
While on the road, it is important to practice being alert in one's surroundings. This helps you be ready to take action in case of an emergency. Avoiding distractions, scanning surroundings, and recognising suspicious behaviour are all things that you will need to do regularly when on the road.
Where you park can make a difference in whether or not a criminal considers your vehicle. Always try to park in well-lit areas, secure garages, and avoid crime hotspots.
There are simpler things that you can do that can help with car crime, this can include double-checking locks, using steering locks, and making sure you don’t leave valuables in visible parts of the car.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel that you might be at risk of vehicle crime or have already succumbed to it, there are some things you can do.
Here are some suggestions on what to do:
You will need to assess the situation and stay calm, avoid going home as this might be the intended location of the hijacking. Use defensive driving techniques and call for help from a friend or relative. If you are certain that something suspicious is happening, then alert the authorities and find the nearest police station.
In the case of a hijacking, here are some steps to follow:
If you ever do find that your car has been stolen or you have been a victim of a hijacking, then there are steps you should take immediately.
It is crucial that you report this incident to authorities as soon as possible and then notify your tracking recovery services if they have not yet detected the crime. If you and any other parties are injured, then contact emergency services to come provide care and take you to the hospital.
Between the police and your tracking company, the crime will be addressed accordingly. Make sure to stay up to date with any new information that might be shared.
If you have Cartrack as your vehicle tracking provider, then you can rest assured that your vehicle will be recovered, as we come with a 90% recovery rate. We also offer other features that can help in avoiding vehicle crime, let’s look at what some of them are:
Vehicle crime might be a rampant issue but fortunately, some measures can be put in place, such as Cartrack’s solutions, to help prevent the chances of being a victim. Contact us to hear more about how we can protect you from vehicle crime.
Discover how vehicle criminals think and learn how to avoid becoming a target. Get expert tips on security, situational awareness, and Cartrack’s solutions.
