During the 2020 lockdown restrictions in South Africa, the country saw a slight reduction in crime levels. This was mostly due to the severe restrictions on movement and economic activity under COVID-19 lockdowns. However, with the slight reduction in controls, crime levels are again rising.
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Poor Economic Activity Leads to Higher Crime Levels
This year, South Africa saw a major increase in crime and violence throughout the country. Looking at car hijackings, South Africa saw a 13.1% rise compared to the previous year. In fact, the crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2020/21 year showed that hijackings reached a five-year high between January and March.
The slant towards vehicle-related crimes is most likely an opportunistic tactic. There is a noticeable increase in vehicles being targeted for their loads.
South Africans should remain vigilant at all times, especially when returning home from shopping. Further techniques include criminals impersonating law enforcement officials to commit hijackings.
How Are South Africans Protecting Their Vehicles?
Many vehicle owners and fleet managers are now investing in live tracking that allows them to monitor their vehicles anywhere and at any time. In addition, getting an anti-theft alert when your vehicle enters a no-go zone is essential for keeping occupants safe. One of these solutions includes tracking devices.
These tracking devices come with a variety of features that help to keep vehicles safe and secure on the road. Some of these features include:
- Vehicle Tracking System
This sophisticated online platform allows vehicle owners to view where their vehicle is on an interactive map, see how it is being driven and obtain extensive reporting on past trips.
- Cross-Border Alerts
Cross-border vehicle theft is one of the main contributors to vehicle theft in South Africa. The border alerts feature is a proactive solution to help minimise the risk of vehicle theft and illegal cross-border exports.
- No-Go Zones
Crime and hijacking hotspots are prevalent in South African cities and South African motorists must be alerted when entering these zones. This state-of-the-art technology alerts and sends vehicle owners and fleet managers a notification immediately if their vehicle enters any of the listed no-go zones.
Keep You, Your Drivers and Vehicles Safe on the Road
Today, it is more important than ever to find practical solutions to keep you and your vehicles safe and secure on the road. Vehicle tracking is an affordable and effective way to do so. With the increase in vehicle-related crimes, you can also have better peace of mind knowing that you can track your vehicles at any time and from anywhere.
