Criminals are after these 8 items in South Africa – and they’re looking for cars that have them – BusinessTech

Cartrack has warned that vehicle component theft is on the rise in South Africa, and certain cars are being targeted for several specific items that are in demand on the black market.

The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) latest report shows that approximately 66 cars are being stolen daily, a 6.5% rise from the previous year.

Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index highlights similar concerns, noting that hijackings and car thefts had significantly increased by the end of 2023 and into 2024.

The index is based on data collected from Tracker’s over 1.1 million subscriptions. Nationally, hijackings accounted for 55% of all vehicle crime incidents, while theft accounted for 45%.

Despite these alarming trends, Cartrack, a prominent car-tracking company, said the theft of car components has become more widespread than the theft of entire vehicles.

It said the high demand for affordable, readily available parts on the black market drives this trend, as these parts are easier to conceal and harder to trace than whole cars.

The tracking company noted that airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels, and tyres are among the most stolen parts.

Cartrack reported incidents of stolen vehicles that were later found completely stripped, indicating the lucrative trade value of illegal chop shops and stolen car parts, which has been estimated at about R442 million.

This unlawful practice is seen as a quicker and more profitable alternative to reselling stolen vehicles.

Additionally, it has enticed not only seasoned thieves but also car mechanics who engage in dishonest practices, such as replacing car parts with faulty, cheaper ones while repairing vehicles.

Criminals can swiftly and relatively effortlessly steal vehicle components, with four wheels capable of being removed in five minutes, airbags and tailgates in two minutes, and a battery disconnected in as little as one minute.

This unlawful activity has made second-hand bakkie tailgates highly desirable to criminals, with prices starting from around R2,500 on the illicit market, noted Cartrack.

Data from insurance company MiWay seems to align with that of Cartrack, noting that the most frequently stolen accessories include car wheels, wheel caps, car batteries, sound equipment, vehicle mirrors, and headlights.

Although all cars have these components, some models are more of a target than others.

Several security companies have noted that targets of hijacking and car thefts in South Africa follow the trends of supply and demand in the market.

This means the targeted brand and model align with those that are on the country’s road the most, as the demand for the vehicle also raises the demand for its parts.

According to Lightstone’s data on monthly car sales, in partnership with Naamsa, Toyota and VW often rank as the first and second best-selling car brands in the country, including their models.

This makes their top-selling models, the Hilux bakkie and the VW Polo, prime targets for thefts of wheels, airbags, tailgates and headlights (especially VWs, as seen in the image above).

In fact, the demand for their cars has become so rampant on the black market that car manufacturer Toyota noted at the end of 2022 that it would provide free security updates to drivers in South Africa in a bid to counter increased levels of luxury vehicle theft in the country by tech-savvy criminals.

Additionally, the theft of headlights from VW vehicles in South Africa, especially Polo and Polo Vivo models, has increased so much in recent years that VW said it is working on finding a solution.

VW noted that badges and hubcaps were the main targets for thieves, and they were primarily active in Johannesburg and the surrounding areas, but it has now spread to also stealing headlights, grilles, and bumpers, and crimes of this kind have been reported all over the country.

To protect yourself and your vehicle from seasoned thieves, MiWay urged motorists to:

• Equip your wheels with locknuts.
• Reinforce your battery bracket.
• Always park in busy, visible, and well-lit areas.
• Double-check that your vehicle is locked when you leave it.
• Keep valuables out of sight.
• Avoid driving through high-risk areas and known hijacking hotspots.
• Never connect to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks from your car.
• Stay vigilant, and do not be lured out of your car for any reason.
• Install a GPS tracker so your vehicle can be located if stolen or hijacked.

Commenting on the latest hijacking hotspots, Tracker highlighted that while shopping malls remain a primary hotspot for thefts in South Africa, its data also flagged sporting and schooling events as primary hunting grounds for hijackings and car thefts across the country.

Read: Shift in hijacking targets in South Africa – with Chinese cars now in the crosshairs