THEME 5.2: VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
INTRODUCTION:
- SA have one of the highest hijacking figures in the world.
- Vehicle hijackings often involve acts of aggressive violence accompanied by the
intimidatory use of a firearm(s).
- The victim is often physically (with a weapon) and verbally threatened and
sometimes forcibly removed from the vehicle if he or she resists the
perpetrator.
- In some cases, the driver and/or passengers may be kidnapped and later
dropped off by the perpetrator at another location.
- Hijackings commonly take place at traffic lights, intersections, shopping centres
or in the driveway of the victim's home, after which the vehicle may be passed
on to the intended buyer or sold as parts.
- This crime's lucrative nature and easy access to the intended target make it a
profitable crime for criminal opportunists.
DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS
Robbery
Includes the unlawful and intentional use of violence to take property
belonging to someone else.
The following characteristics must be present for a crime to be constituted as a
robbery
- the unlawful and intentional;
- theft of property (such as a motor vehicle);
- the use of violence (e.g. using a weapon) or threats of violence (the victim
believes that his/her live is in danger) and;
- a causal link between the violence and taking of the property
Vehicle hijacking
- The robbery of a motor vehicle or so-called "carjacking" is "the unlawful and
intentional forceful removal and appropriation of a motor vehicle
(excluding a truck) belonging to another";
- A truck hijacking is defined as "the unlawful and intentional forceful
removal and appropriation of a truck (excluding a light delivery
vehicle) belonging to another".
- Motor vehicle hijackings: the hijacker forcefully demands the victim
(occupant of the target vehicle) to hand over the car, usually instructing to
disarm (switch off) the vehicle's alarm system and/or tracker system (if
installed) and takes the vehicle from the driver using force or threat of force.
EXTENT OF VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
- A vehicle is hijacked every 40 to 54 minutes in South Africa, which equates to
more than 25 vehicle drivers becoming victims of hijacking daily
- Taking the last five years’ SAPS statistics into account (from April 2008 to March
2013) it is found that a vehicle is hijacked approximately every 10 minutes.
, - In South Africa, statistics on vehicle hijackings are a subcategory of aggravated
robbery and forms part of the so-called TRIO crimes (carjacking, truck hijacking,
robbery at residential premises and robbery at non-residential premises).
TYPES OF VEHICLES TARGETED
- Business Against Crime in South Africa (BACSA) has identified the basic
characteristics of vehicles that are most sought after in the crime market.
- Older vehicles (7–21 years old) are at higher risk of theft.
- Vehicles that are one to four years old are at the highest risk of being
hijacked.
- Sedans are more frequently targeted, while mini-buses and pick-up trucks
are at a much higher risk of being stolen or hijacked than any other type of
vehicle.
- Vehicle characteristics such as colour, model and low mileage are most
often the biggest factors in hijackings done ‘on demand’, i.e. on ‘orders’ placed
by ‘clients.
- Vehicles that are mostly targeted by transnational organised crime groups are
car makes and models that have a wide distribution range in the
legitimate trade and therefore have a relative larger number of consumers.
- Thus, vehicle hijackers tend to focus on the type of vehicle model, the value
of the vehicle or its cargo (in the case of trucks), and the availability of
a market for the specific model
- Most hijackers tend to be selective in the type of vehicle that they are looking
for as they usually receive a certain price for a specific vehicle.
- Among the favourites are new luxury vehicles such as Mercedes Benz and BMW.
- Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and luxury 4X4s are still commonly targeted, while
Toyota and Volkswagen remain two of the most popular brands
CAUSES OF AND MOTIVES FOR VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
- The economic benefits associated with vehicle hijacking are one of the most
popular reasons for committing this crime.
- The motivation behind this lies in the lucrative and quick money-making
benefits of vehicle hijacking.
- The perpetrator usually receives a cash payment from the buyer or a syndicate
upon delivering the vehicle.
- This often takes place within the first or second hour after the crime has been
committed
- A study conducted on sentenced vehicle hijackers revealed that they would
rather hijack a vehicle than steal it. The reason for this is because hijacking is
quicker and easier than stealing a stationary or parked vehicle. For example, by
hijacking a vehicle, they can obtain the original keys without having to "hotwire"
a stolen vehicle.
THE CAUSES AND MOTIVES FOR VEHICLE HIJACKINGS INCLUDE:
Anti-theft devices
By hijacking a vehicle (when the victim is present), enables the perpetrator to force
the victim to immobilise anti-hijacking devices
Profitable market.
INTRODUCTION:
- SA have one of the highest hijacking figures in the world.
- Vehicle hijackings often involve acts of aggressive violence accompanied by the
intimidatory use of a firearm(s).
- The victim is often physically (with a weapon) and verbally threatened and
sometimes forcibly removed from the vehicle if he or she resists the
perpetrator.
- In some cases, the driver and/or passengers may be kidnapped and later
dropped off by the perpetrator at another location.
- Hijackings commonly take place at traffic lights, intersections, shopping centres
or in the driveway of the victim's home, after which the vehicle may be passed
on to the intended buyer or sold as parts.
- This crime's lucrative nature and easy access to the intended target make it a
profitable crime for criminal opportunists.
DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS
Robbery
Includes the unlawful and intentional use of violence to take property
belonging to someone else.
The following characteristics must be present for a crime to be constituted as a
robbery
- the unlawful and intentional;
- theft of property (such as a motor vehicle);
- the use of violence (e.g. using a weapon) or threats of violence (the victim
believes that his/her live is in danger) and;
- a causal link between the violence and taking of the property
Vehicle hijacking
- The robbery of a motor vehicle or so-called "carjacking" is "the unlawful and
intentional forceful removal and appropriation of a motor vehicle
(excluding a truck) belonging to another";
- A truck hijacking is defined as "the unlawful and intentional forceful
removal and appropriation of a truck (excluding a light delivery
vehicle) belonging to another".
- Motor vehicle hijackings: the hijacker forcefully demands the victim
(occupant of the target vehicle) to hand over the car, usually instructing to
disarm (switch off) the vehicle's alarm system and/or tracker system (if
installed) and takes the vehicle from the driver using force or threat of force.
EXTENT OF VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
- A vehicle is hijacked every 40 to 54 minutes in South Africa, which equates to
more than 25 vehicle drivers becoming victims of hijacking daily
- Taking the last five years’ SAPS statistics into account (from April 2008 to March
2013) it is found that a vehicle is hijacked approximately every 10 minutes.
, - In South Africa, statistics on vehicle hijackings are a subcategory of aggravated
robbery and forms part of the so-called TRIO crimes (carjacking, truck hijacking,
robbery at residential premises and robbery at non-residential premises).
TYPES OF VEHICLES TARGETED
- Business Against Crime in South Africa (BACSA) has identified the basic
characteristics of vehicles that are most sought after in the crime market.
- Older vehicles (7–21 years old) are at higher risk of theft.
- Vehicles that are one to four years old are at the highest risk of being
hijacked.
- Sedans are more frequently targeted, while mini-buses and pick-up trucks
are at a much higher risk of being stolen or hijacked than any other type of
vehicle.
- Vehicle characteristics such as colour, model and low mileage are most
often the biggest factors in hijackings done ‘on demand’, i.e. on ‘orders’ placed
by ‘clients.
- Vehicles that are mostly targeted by transnational organised crime groups are
car makes and models that have a wide distribution range in the
legitimate trade and therefore have a relative larger number of consumers.
- Thus, vehicle hijackers tend to focus on the type of vehicle model, the value
of the vehicle or its cargo (in the case of trucks), and the availability of
a market for the specific model
- Most hijackers tend to be selective in the type of vehicle that they are looking
for as they usually receive a certain price for a specific vehicle.
- Among the favourites are new luxury vehicles such as Mercedes Benz and BMW.
- Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and luxury 4X4s are still commonly targeted, while
Toyota and Volkswagen remain two of the most popular brands
CAUSES OF AND MOTIVES FOR VEHICLE HIJACKINGS
- The economic benefits associated with vehicle hijacking are one of the most
popular reasons for committing this crime.
- The motivation behind this lies in the lucrative and quick money-making
benefits of vehicle hijacking.
- The perpetrator usually receives a cash payment from the buyer or a syndicate
upon delivering the vehicle.
- This often takes place within the first or second hour after the crime has been
committed
- A study conducted on sentenced vehicle hijackers revealed that they would
rather hijack a vehicle than steal it. The reason for this is because hijacking is
quicker and easier than stealing a stationary or parked vehicle. For example, by
hijacking a vehicle, they can obtain the original keys without having to "hotwire"
a stolen vehicle.
THE CAUSES AND MOTIVES FOR VEHICLE HIJACKINGS INCLUDE:
Anti-theft devices
By hijacking a vehicle (when the victim is present), enables the perpetrator to force
the victim to immobilise anti-hijacking devices
Profitable market.
