Tracker’s vehicle crime statistics for January to June 2024 show that, on a national level, hijackings remain the predominant vehicle crime, accounting for 54% of incidents compared to 46% for theft. This trend is even more evident in the Eastern and Western Cape, particularly with business-owned vehicles.
Related: The pressing issue of car hijacking
Eastern Cape
The data is acquired using the Tracker Vehicle Crime Index, consolidating data from over 1.1 million subscribers. The information suggests that a personal vehicle is four times more likely to be hijacked than stolen in the Eastern Cape. For business-owned vehicles, the likelihood of hijacking is nine times higher. The Eastern Cape also records the highest risk for business vehicle crime, with a 43% over-representation relative to Tracker’s business-owned vehicle subscriber base.
Western Cape
Similarly, in the Western Cape, the propensity for hijacking is significantly higher than theft. Personal vehicles in the province are almost twice as likely to be hijacked than stolen. Moreover, personal vehicles show a 22% over-representation in vehicle crime compared to Tracker’s subscriber base. Although business vehicle crime is lower in the Western Cape compared to the subscriber base, a business vehicle in the province is still four times more likely to be hijacked than stolen.
Gauteng
Gauteng continues to record the highest volume of vehicle crime, representing 58% of the national total, a significant over-representation based on Tracker’s subscriber base in the province. Although Gauteng sees 51% of all hijackings nationwide, theft in the province is marginally higher at 53% compared to 47% for hijacking.
National
On a national scale, hijackings account for 65% of business vehicle crimes. Conversely, theft leads to personal vehicle crimes at 52%. Overall, business-owned vehicles are 34% more likely to experience hijacking rather than theft compared to personal vehicles, and they face a 45% higher risk of vehicle crime overall.
Business-owned vehicles, which range from cargo trucks to courier vans, are especially attractive targets due to the high value of their transport goods. This makes crimes against these vehicles highly profitable for criminals.
Across the country, hijackings are most frequently reported on Fridays between 4 pm and 8 pm, while thefts predominantly occur on Saturdays between 11 am and 3 pm.
Related: Tips on how to prevent hijacking
Tracker stats
To date, Tracker has 127 884 vehicle recoveries, 20 958 arrests, and has confiscated 1 119 firearms.
A word from Tracker
Crime trends vary across provinces and are influenced by the sophistication of local crime syndicates. Currently, vehicle theft in Gauteng is higher than hijacking, likely due to the increased use of keyless entry relay attacks. Meanwhile, crime along the N2 corridor towards Gqeberha has surged significantly, likely driven by opportunistic hijacking and looting of goods in transit. This is due to the high unemployment rate in the Eastern Cape, which creates a market for quick and untraceable cash,” explains Duma Ngcobo, Chief Operating Officer at Tracker.
