Top targets for vehicle hijackings
Recent crime stats released by Police Minister Bheki Cele highlihght the top targets for vehicle hijackings on South African roads.
Police Minister Bheki Cele, released the third quarter crime stats on Friday, which highlighted the concerning trend of vehicle hijackings during the festive period.
“The crime statistics that we are releasing this afternoon are crimes that were detected by our men and women in blue and reported by victims of crime to all our 1163 police stations between 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023,” Minister Cele stated.
ALSO READ: All you need to know about South Africa’s new number plate system
The festive season, marked by increased movement and an influx of visitors and tourists, has historically been a prime time for criminals to target unsuspecting victims, robbing them of their possessions and hard-earned money.
CRIMES STATS: VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
According to the quarterly crime stats, the types of vehicles hijacked between October and December 2023 include sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, bakkies, panel vans, motorcycles, SUVs, station wagons, microbuses, minibuses, trucks (both under and over 3500kg), trailers, buses, as well as industrial and agricultural machinery.
ALSO READ: Quarterly crime stats will be released by SAPS today
WESTERN CAPE, GAUTENG TOP HIJACKING HOTSPOTS NATIONALLY
The latest crime stats reveal that Western Cape and Gauteng emerge as dominant forces. They top the list of hijacking hotspots nationwide.
This sobering reality underscores the urgent need for targeted measures. These measures are essential to address the crime stats issue and ensure the safety of our communities in these regions and beyond.