According to South Africa’s crime statistics, South Africa has a serious car hijacking problem. It was recently reported that a total of 16 325 cars were carjacked between 2017 and 2018 – a minimal decline from the 16 717 reported car theft incidents in 2016.
Marius Steyn, underwriting manager at Santam recently shared that car-jamming also continues to be an escalating safety concern for many South Africans as long term trends report a 58% increase in car-jacking since 2011.
In a recent Wheels24 article Steyn shares tips on how to avoid falling victim to car-jamming – tips for you and your client:
| 1. | Better safe than sorry When leaving your parked vehicle, always double check that your vehicle is locked by testing the doors after pressing the immobilizer button. |
| 2. | Be prepared Make sure you assess all immobiliser devices and security systems on a regular basis. If there are any faults, contact an authorised service provider to fix or replace the faulty system with a recommended device. |
| 3. | Mind your storage Always store personal items such as sunglasses, cell phones and even groceries in a locked boot or glove compartment and not where they are visible. This reduces the temptation to steal. |
“The rise in car-jamming incidents also signals a caution to policyholders to not only take greater care when they park but to be mindful of their car insurance conditions when it comes to car-jamming”, Steyn advises.
