Toll Gate Hijacking - How To Prevent Being A Victim These Holidays

Despite this challenge, there are always smart solutions designed to protect yourself and your vehicle from car thieves. 

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Let’s find out what these are.

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Exploring the new toll gate hijacking trend in South Africa

Living in a high-crime country such as South Africa, motorists unfortunately quickly have to learn to never let their guard down while driving, especially through certain SA streets, stopping at traffic lights, going through drive-throughs, and now sadly, even at toll gates.

As the festive season is in full force, many people will be driving to visit family or simply about to set off on their December holiday trip. Most of them will probably take a toll-gated route to reach their destinations. If you are one of these motorists, and even if you’re not, read on to equip yourself with the knowledge that could protect you and your loved ones from being the next toll-gate hijacking victim. 

Ever since the toll gate hijacking incident that took place in December 2022, motorists have been on alert in the hope of avoiding becoming the next victim. The leaked CCTV clip of that incident at the Nyl toll plaza shows how three armed individuals hijacked a vehicle in broad daylight, giving you insights into how the minds of these hijackers work and how quickly it can all happen.

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While authorities are doing their part to secure safe travels, this is what a Sanral spokesperson had to say when asked to comment on the growing concern over the safety of using toll gates:

“While we can reduce the motivation to commit crime by increasing our security measures at toll plazas, we cannot police someone’s intention to commit a crime. We, therefore, appeal to road users to always be vigilant and aware of threats to their security in any location,” said: Sanral spokesperson, Vusi Mona. 

The many types of hijacking methods

There are many different types of hijacking methods criminals use to steal your car. The hijacking method used at toll gates is known as the ‘boxing-in’ method. This is when criminals cut off both the front and back paths, leaving you trapped in the middle with nowhere to go. The same method is used at drive-throughs of fast-food restaurants and victims’ home driveways.

Regarding toll gate lanes, this method is extra effective as the vehicle would be funnelled into a narrow lane, with a few vehicles behind it and the criminal’s vehicle ahead fully blocking any forward movement. 

Apart from the boxing-in method used in the toll gate incident, these are other popular hijacking methods that criminals use to gain access to your vehicles:

1. Smash-and-grab: Criminals smash a vehicle window, often aiming for the side window closest to the driver's seat, to gain access to the interior and quickly steal keys or visible valuables like laptops, wallets, phones, etc. It's fast but risky if the owner is nearby.

2. Key fob hacking: Criminals use specialised devices to intercept the signal emitted by the fob to hack the car's key fob and unlock doors. It's sophisticated in terms of technology use and is becoming increasingly common.

3. Relay theft: Criminals use two devices for this method, one to amplify the signal from the car owner's key fob and another to relay it to the vehicle, effectively unlocking it and allowing them to unlock and start the car engine without the use of the actual key.

4. Distraction theft: Criminals distract the owner by engaging them in conversation or asking them for directions, for example, anything to remove them from their vehicle, while an accomplice steals the car.

Preventive measures to consider

Motorists can actively take steps to reduce the risk of toll gate hijackings by adopting these preventive measures:

• Choose a well-lit toll path: When approaching toll plazas, choose those well-lit and equipped with visible security personnel. Adequate lighting enhances visibility, discouraging criminal activities.
  
  
• Travel during off-peak hours: Consider only using toll road routes during less congested times to minimise the likelihood of encountering criminals. Off-peak hours may offer a more secure environment, as it is tougher for hijackers to box you in when there’s no traffic and it gives you more space to manoeuvre if they do.
  
  
• Stay alert and be aware: Maintain heightened awareness as you approach the toll gate. Pay close attention to your surroundings, particularly observing any suspicious individuals or vehicles. Keep an eye out for behaviours such as tailgating or erratic movements.
  
  
• Conceal valuables: Avoid displaying valuable items, such as phones, laptops, or bags, while waiting at the toll gate. Conceal these possessions within the vehicle to deter potential theft or targeting.

By consistently incorporating these robust security measures into your travel routine, you contribute to fostering a safer environment at toll gates.

Hijacking and vehicle theft solutions for South African motorists

Besides hiding your valuables and being vigilant when driving, exploring additional and advanced vehicle safety measures is always wise. 

While these smart gadgets cannot prevent your vehicle from getting stolen, they can be an extra layer of security to ensure the safety of your vehicle.

• GPS vehicle tracking unit: This device is installed in a vehicle and can monitor and track the vehicle 24/7. GPS devices are one of the most effective tools against vehicle hijacking, as they can aid in recovering stolen vehicles by providing location data to owners or dispatchers to track and potentially recover stolen vehicles.
  
  
• Alarms and start prevent (immobilisers): These play a crucial role in vehicle security. Alarms raise immediate alerts when unauthorised entry is detected, attracting attention from security and people around while deterring thieves, and if an  immobiliser is installed, you would need authorisation through an app or software to deactivate the immobiliser. prevent the engine from starting without  Even if the criminals have your car keys, the immobiliser can still prevent the car from starting.
  
  
• Window tinting and smash-and-grab protection: These measures make it more difficult for thieves to see inside the vehicle and break the windows to gain access.
  
  
• Steering wheel locks: These devices physically prevent the steering wheel from turning, making it difficult for the thief to drive away from the car.
  
  
• Wheel locks: These devices lock the wheels in place, making it impossible for the thief to drive away with the car.
  
  
• Key fob blocker pouch: This car key pouch blocks the signal from your key fob when inside, preventing thieves from using relay attacks to unlock and steal your car.

While these solutions are great and each serves a purpose, if you are looking for better secure, long-term solutions that can give you a more controlled and added layer of vehicle safety, investing in a GPS vehicle tracking unit might be the smart choice for you and your vehicle.

Invest in GPS tracking for your vehicle

Vehicle tracking units work to track your vehicle’s location in real-time and provide end users with vast information on their vehicles, such as the time and date of the last time your engine was active, all previous trips taken (to a certain date), the odometer and many more.

This works by installing the unit in your vehicle and using global positioning systems (GPS) to do all the hard work.

1. GPS units have receivers that pick up signals from the satellites orbiting Earth. These signals help the tracking device gather information about the vehicle like the speed it's going, the direction it's taking, and the distance travelled, etc., to pinpoint its exact location.
   
   
2. Once the GPS unit figures out the vehicle's location, it regularly sends this data to a central server. This communication typically happens using cellular or satellite networks as the tracking unit has a SIM card or satellite communication module to send data swiftly.
   
   
3. After sending, the information is stored on a server or cloud platform. Users can access this data anytime through a website or mobile app through a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
   
   

This information can all be accessible to the owner through a mobile app and can also be sent to law enforcement to aid in the tracking and retrieving of a stolen vehicle when applicable, minimising the time thieves have to dispose of or dismantle it.

Navigate the threats of toll-gate hijacking safely with Cartrack

Cartrack is a world leader in mobility solutions and a leading GPS and cloud-based vehicle tracking systems provider in South Africa. While there might be limited ways to get your car out of the toll gate trap, there is a way to track its whereabouts and even get it back if stolen with Cartrack’s industry-leading vehicle tracking software. 

Location tracking: Cartrack's vehicle tracking system keeps a close eye on your vehicle and provides real-time location updates. This is useful in assisting Cartrack’s vehicle recovery team in quickly locating and recovering your vehicle. 

Skilled air and ground recovery team: Our recovery response teams operate on the ground and in the air, and use the latest location data gathered from installed vehicle tracking devices to find and recover stolen vehicles, so you know you’re in safe hands. 

24/7 control room agents: In the unfortunate event of vehicle theft or hijacking, our agents are always ready to dispatch recovery agents to assist you.

Stolen vehicle recovery (SVR): In case of vehicle theft, Cartrack's specialised stolen vehicle recovery service uses GPS tracking to help locate and recover your vehicle quickly and safely and provides confidence to more than 1.8 million subscribers with their unmatched stolen vehicle recovery rate of over 90%. 

Limited recovery warranty: If your vehicle has been stolen and for some reason, Cartrack cannot recover it, you can use a recovery warranty to claim up to R150 000 in cash-back payment to help you replace your stolen vehicle. This service comes with Ts&Cs.

Fight toll-gate hijacking fears with industry-leading vehicle tracking solutions

If it’s vehicle safety you’re looking for this December or any month — trust Cartrack to ensure your trips have a lot more peace of mind with their safety features, services and industry-leading expertise.

Protect your vehicle with one of the best. Contact Cartrack today.