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Vehicle theft and hijackings continue to be a major threat in South Africa, with alarming statistics showing that the country still struggles with high crime rates in this sector.
There is a slight decline of car thefts compared to the previous year (2023) but the numbers remain concerning. Between April and June 2024, a staggering 8,611 incidents of motor vehicle theft were reported, marking a 5.2% decrease from the previous year.
Sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes have emerged as the most frequently hijacked vehicle types, according to the latest SAPS crime statistics.
What is more shocking is the resurgence of car thefts and hijackings in mall parking lots especially targeting high-value vehicles.
Syndicates involved in these crimes are becoming more sophisticated, with both SAPS and private tracking and insurance companies like Tracker and Santam raising concerns about the surge in thefts from shopping centres.
Duma Ngcobo, COO of Tracker, highlights that malls remain the hotspot for vehicle thefts. The rise of keyless vehicles has given thieves more opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities, as they now employ high-tech methods like relay and canvas attacks to hijack cars.
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