Rising vehicle crime: how to mitigate this risk

As vehicle crime rates continue to rise in South Africa, fleet managers and business owners with commercial vehicle fleets face significant threats to their assets and the safety of their drivers. So, how can they effectively mitigate these risks?

Escalating Vehicle Crime Volumes in South Africa

The vehicle crime situation in South Africa is a growing concern, as highlighted by Tracker’s Vehicle Crime Index (VCI). In 2022, there was a 12% rise in theft and a 14% increase in hijackings to Tracker’s subscriber base compared to the previous year, even after accounting for annual subscriber volume growth. These figures are drawn from over 1.1 million Tracker-installed vehicles.

Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa, experienced the highest surge in incidents, with vehicle theft rising by 22% and hijackings increasing by 15%. The Western Cape also witnessed a 14% increase in vehicle crime incidents, albeit with lower volumes compared to Gauteng. KwaZulu-Natal saw a further 8% increase in hijackings in 2022, following a 25% increase in 2021, with hijackings now accounting for 56% of reported incidents in the province.

The months of October and November – commonly referred to as the “silly season” –are notorious for a spike in fleet crime. During the 2022 “silly season,” almost two-thirds of Tracker’s national fleet activations related to hijacking incidents. Criminals take advantage of the increased fleet activity to target valuable cargo. During “silly season,” criminals primarily target fast-moving consumable goods (FMCG), including alcohol, clothing, groceries, couriered parcels from online sales platforms, and even agricultural loads such as soil, timber, and farming equipment.

Proactive measures for fleet, freight and driver safety

To mitigate the risks of vehicle crime and safeguard fleet operations, fleet managers and business owners can implement the following proactive measures:

Keyless Entry Protection

• Store keyless entry key fobs in a Faraday pouch lined with metallic material, which blocks signals and prevents criminals from amplifying them.
• Park another vehicle requiring a key behind a keyless entry vehicle overnight to make it more difficult for thieves to steal it.
• Consider deactivating the keyless entry function, following the manufacturer’s instructions or vehicle handbook.

Hijacking avoidance advice

• Vary routes to and from regular destinations to avoid establishing predictable driving patterns.
• Plan routes in advance to minimise the need for stops or asking for directions on the road. Wherever possible, use available telematics technology to assist optimal routing and avoid congested areas.
• Identify high-risk crime and hijacking areas and avoid them whenever possible.
• Keep doors locked and windows rolled up at all times.
• Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and those in front, enabling a quick escape in case of an attempted hijacking.
• Before exiting the vehicle, check all mirrors to remain aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid remaining inside a parked vehicle, particularly when occupied with distractions like reading or using a cell phone.
• If encountering someone requiring roadside assistance, contact the police or metro police for assistance instead.
• Consider utilising in-cab artificial intelligence dashcams that can visually alert fleet managers and business owners in real time, through facial and behaviour recognition, to an unauthorised driver, or driver behaviour indicative of a hijacking situation.

Vehicle Theft Prevention

• Ensure all windows are closed and doors are locked before leaving a parked vehicle, even if for brief periods of time during, and between, deliveries.
• Park in well-lit areas with monitoring cameras and high levels of pedestrian activity around.
• Use steering wheel locks or gear locks and install immobilisers, even if the vehicle already has built-in security systems. Audible alarm systems act as additional deterrents.
• Avoid leaving spare keys near the vehicle, particularly if these are keyless entry fobs stored in an office nearby to the parked vehicles. The keyless entry signal can be amplified, and the vehicle opened, started up and driven away.
• Consider upgrading the vehicle tracking system to include theft retrieval and early notification of unauthorised movement. This enables immediate recovery protocols to be initiated, buying valuable time immediately following a theft.

In the face of escalating vehicle crime rates in South Africa, fleet managers and business owners must prioritise the safety of their assets and drivers. “Staying vigilant, leveraging technology-driven solutions, and staying informed about the current vehicle crime landscape are crucial for safeguarding fleets, protecting assets, and ensuring the well-being of drivers.” advises Duma Ngcobo, Tracker’s chief operating officer.

By taking necessary precautions and employing the recommended strategies, fleet managers and business owners can successfully navigate the challenging vehicle crime landscape in South Africa with greater resilience and protect their businesses from potential losses and their staff from possible harm.