While the Free State’s vehicle crime activity level has dropped somewhat, the province remains a hotspot for carjacking.
According to the latest report of the Tracker Vehicle Crime Index, incidents of hijacking are common in the province, accounting for 63% of vehicle crime.
Vehicle theft accounts for 37%.
These statistics are for the period July to December 2021.
Findings have revealed that the nature of vehicle crime has changed as syndicates have altered their modus operandi.
By August last year, vehicle theft in the province was at 53% and hijacking at 47%.
Statistics indicate that the level of vehicle theft in the Free State is high, with Bloemfontein and Sasolburg pointed out as hotspots.
The province is third nationally in terms of hijacking and theft.
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape remain fertile ground for syndicates. The Western Cape, at 78%, has the highest incidence of hijacking, while vehicle theft in this province accounts for 22%.
Gauteng is at 55% for hijacking, while KwaZulu-Natal experienced a 53% to 47% split in favour of hijacking.
According to Duma Ngcobo, chief operating officer at Tracker, findings revealed that hijacking has been on the rise for the past three years.
It has overtaken theft as a vehicle crime activity.
“The statistics indicate that 57,5% of the vehicle crime activities for the second half of 2021 could be attributed to hijacking,” he said.
“This is a complete reversal compared to July to December 2018, when theft accounted for 57,2% of the vehicle crime activities.”
According to Ngcobo, efforts to combat vehicle crime resulted in 3 144 vehicle recoveries, 337 arrests and 22 firearms recovered for the six-month period under review.
Meanwhile, according to online news platform 2oceansvibe, vehicle crime syndicates target specific cars due to highly sought-after parts and whole vehicles on the black market.
In 2019 the most targeted car in South Africa was the Volkswagen Polo, followed by the Toyota Hilux. In comparison, the most stolen cars in South Africa in 2018 were Toyotas.
More than 57% of the vehicle crime activities for the second half of 2021 can be attributed to hijacking– Duma Ngcobo
