Get Home SafelyBE ALERT - BE EMPOWERED - BE PREPARED

Don't become a victim, be aware, be prepared!   

Many people ask "What would you do if......" the sad reality is there are many that ask "What could I have done differently?"  

Today's society brings a scary mix of criminals and predators, from thieves to sexual predators.  

Our certified instructors empower Lady Students to realize that they have the strength, ability and courage to confront these fears. 

We understand that not everyone has decades to study and practice self defence techniques in order to learn to protect themselves from an attack. Work, family, commitments all vie for our time and you want to learn how to keep yourself safe without devoting your life to it.

Anti-Hijacking Awareness and Tips

 

KNOWLEDGE and Vigilance are your best weapons against being hijacked.

HIJACKING is the one word that shoots straight to the heart of anybody who ever

get in a car in South Africa. Nothing can be more terrifying than a man with crazed

eyes, pointing a shaking gun at your head and demanding that you get out of your

vehicle.

But what is worse, far worse, is when you have children with you, strapped securely,

suddenly too securely, into car seats. Urgent movements to free them are likely to

panic the already high-on-adrenaline criminal, and he may well let rip with lead.

Terrifying it may be, the main thing is never, ever to lose your head or act like a hero.

Modus Operandi used by hijackers:

Most hijackings take place in the driveways of residential areas.

These hijackers prefer areas with accessible escape routes.

Hijackings take place while stationed at any traffic sign or intersection.

Hijackings take place while stationary next to the road, e.g. to answer a cell

phone.

Hijackings can also occur at post offices, garages & parking areas where it is

quiet.

The hijackers sometimes use a vehicle to force the victim off the road.

Hijackings take place at schools when dropping off / picking up children.

Hijackings take place while the vehicle is idling when off-loading/loading

passengers.

Hijackings take place when advertising your vehicle for sale (Test drive

method).

Bogus Police or Traffic Officers also conduct hijackings (Blue light scenario).

Your life is more valuable than the most expensive car, If you become a victim of

hijacking, don’t resist.” Move calmly and slowly, always telling your hijacker what

you’re doing. For instance say: “I’m going to unbuckle my seatbelt now” before

smoothly sliding one hand down and doing just that.

Steer clear of sudden movements, and don’t look the criminal in the eye, or he may

feel you’re trying to recognize him.

Know that he’s in this for the money: it’s a business to him and you’re merely sitting

in his pay cheque.

Alan Ford, talk show host on 702, says, “They don’t even register that you’re a

person.” Sometime after Alan was hijacked he was doing a story at a prison when

suddenly he found himself eyeball-to-eyeball with the man who had stood

centimeters away from him, holding a gun to his head.

“I went crazy – his face was forever imprinted on my mind – but he just looked at me

blankly. He didn’t even recognize me,” spits Alan.

The business of hijacking is just that, a soulless business. Netstar Tracking and

Recovery consistently notes a drop in hijackings over holiday periods, particularly at

Christmas when the criminals park their butts on the beaches alongside the rest of

us more honest folk.

Cars are often picked according to what the gang boss’s customers have ordered.

According to information from the National Hijack Prevention Academy CC, Vehicle

hijacking is an organized business, run according to business principles and based

on thorough planning.

The large numbers of stolen and unlicensed firearms makes the robbery of a vehicle

the easiest crime to commit and by far the quickest way of earning a few thousand

rand.

But why have incidents of violent theft of cars increased so dramatically?

It’s apparently due to all the security we’ve invested in to protect our cars. With the

advent of gear locks, alarms and immobilizers, simply stealing a car became more

and more difficult, so gangsters had to take them when they were mobile.

And now we have anti-hijack systems which cut off the engine mere minutes after

the hijackers have fled with the vehicle, although these have caused an alarming

new trend in hijacking: taking the car as well as the driver so that they can deactivate

the anti-hijack system should it kick in.

WHEN

v  You’re most at risk of hijackings on Thursdays and, especially, Fridays, particularly

between 5pm and 9pm.

This, say researchers, is because hijackers are quite aware that workers returning

home in the evening are tired and distracted.

v  Monday through to Wednesday is also quite high-risk hijacking days, with

Saturday and Sunday the least problematic, although by no means being totally safe.

According to the team at Netstar, there has been a trend towards Saturday hijacking

over the past few months, most often as families return from a shopping spree, boot

full of added extras.

v  Hijacking reaches its lowest point at 2am, and starts picking up again at around

6am, when motorists are heading off for work.

v  Hijacking of trucks tends to occur late in the morning, when they’re loaded and just

starting deliveries.

 

WHERE

v  Most hijackings take place in driveways, with attacks at intersections when cars

are stationary also fairly common, so these are the areas where the most vigilance is

needed. Sometimes hijackers may attempt to run your car off the road or will stage a

minor bump at a traffic light, forcing you to leave your car to check the damage.

v  Stopping to take a cell phone call is also a great temptation to hijackers, as you’ll

be distracted, while another favourite is following potential victims to their car in

parking areas.

v  Keep your eyes wide open when picking up your post or dropping your kids off,

especially if you leave your car idling.

v  There are also the so-called “blue light gangs” to be wary of.

SAVE YOURSELF

How to avoid a Hijack situation:

 

You don’t want to be hijacked, right? Well then be vigilant, and make a habit of

following these guidelines:

v  80% of hijackings take place in home driveways. Check your driveway and street

before you leave or enter your premises. Be on the lookout for suspicious

vehicles/persons. As you approach your house, from as far as 2km away you must

go into alert mode. Switch off your car radio and concentrate.

v  At road junctions, leave enough space between your car and the one ahead of

you. Always be cautious and aware of surrounding obstructions and shrubbery that

may conceal a hijacker you to escape

v  Change the route you follow home regularly. Try to approach your house from a

different direction. Also, try not to arrive home at exactly the same time, as hijackers

look for such routines and plan their attacks accordingly.

v  If there is a vehicle behind you, go around the block to see if he is following you. If

you suspect you are being followed, drive straight to the nearest busy place or police

station.

V  When approaching your vehicle, always have your keys ready but not visible. Be

aware of your surroundings & if you notice any suspicious behaviour immediately

walk away from your car towards a safe area.

v  Check your driveway and street before entering or leaving your home. If you’re on

your way home and spot suspicious people, keep driving. Try again a few minutes

later.

v  Drive straight past your house first to check it out, looking closely at shrubbery.

Turn around and go back only if all is clear.

v  Make sure your driveway is well lit and clear of bushes where hijackers could hide.

v  If you have to get out of the car to open your gate and there are no passengers in

the car, leave your keys in the ignition.

However, if your children are inside, switch off the engine and take the keys with you. You could then offer to swap hijackers the keys in exchange for your children.

v  Phone home as you approach and get a family member to let the dogs out and to

survey the area before you turn in.

v  If your pets are not there as normal to welcome you, be ultra suspicious. The

perpetrators may have poisoned them.

v  Carefully observe parked vehicles in your street, particularly if they have people

inside. Drive on if necessary.

v  At intersections, always stop far enough behind the vehicle in front of you so that

you can pull off in an emergency.

v  If a car has driven into the rear of your car, and the impact is fairly light, wave to

the driver to follow you to somewhere safe to trade necessary information.

v  Once in the car, lock all your doors & your window only partially open. Keep any

valuables, briefcase, handbag & cell phone out of sight.

v  When approaching red traffic lights, slow down and try to reach them as they turn

green.

v  Do not stand by your car if you are waiting for somebody & never sit in your

parked vehicle without being aware of your surroundings.

v  Never pick up hitchhikers.

v  If you suspect you are being followed, take a different route home. If you still think

you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station.

v  Don’t stop to remove obstacles like rocks or tyres blocking your route. Reverse

and head back in the opposite direction.

v  Be vigilant in parking lots, and don’t go near your car if suspicious types are

hanging about. Instead, head straight for the nearest busy area and get assistance.

Beware of people asking for directions, particularly in car parks.

v  Do not stop your car for any reason as this will give your pursuer the ideal

opportunity to hijack your vehicle

v  Beware of anyone trying to tell you that there is something wrong with your car,

unless you know that they are right & it is dangerous to drive on.

v  Avoid driving through high crime or unfamiliar areas as well as late at night/early

hours of the morning when the roads are quiet.

v  Drive in the center lane away from pedestrians where possible.

v  When you are a victim of a car-hijacking, don’t put up a fight. Do exactly as told by

the hijackers. Do not reach for your purse or valuables. Gather as much information

as possible without posing a threat.

Don’t respond if someone is indicating that there is a problem with your vehicle. Only

stop at the nearest garage or safe please.

IF YOU ARE HIJACKED

“STAY ALIVE”

Despite all your best efforts, you may be hijacked. Remember:

v  Never lose your temper. Threaten or challenge your assailants.

v  Do exactly as they say.

v  Do not resist. Surrender your vehicle and move away, leaving everything (except

your children) in the vehicle.

v  Move slowly and make no sudden jerking lunges, even if it’s just to undo your

seatbelt.

v  Talk to the criminal – speaking slowly – telling him what you are doing. Say: “I am

now going to unstrap my baby” rather than leaping to rescue your child. Your

calmness could save your life.

v  Avoid eye contact as this is often perceived as aggression.

v  Keep your hands still and visible.

v  Be observant but not obtrusive. Try to remember details about the hijackers, as

well as how many there were, weapons used, clothing, language and accents and

the direction they drive in.

 

The SA Police Service can be contacted on 08600 10111. They will dispatch the

medical services if needed. Other emergency numbers you could phone are 112

ANY Network (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C) or 147 Vodacom only.