Spike in theft of Sports Utility Vehicles

The theft of top-end Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) like Toyota Fortuners and Ford Rangers has increased in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas.

Last week two Fortuners were reported stolen from two popular shopping centres in Pietermaritzburg.

In November last year Maritzburg Sun reported that there was a spike in the theft of SUVs in the city.

Several security companies received reports of the thefts in suburbs such as Hilton, Cleland as well as from shopping centres.

Renee' Veenstra, spokesperson for AET Security Services, said there has been a noticeable increase in the theft of SUVs in Pietermaritzburg.

“We do have leads which we are following. But the recovery rate of stolen vehicles fitted with a tracking unit is promising. The faster the stolen vehicle is reported, the better the chances of recovery," she said.

She added that these vehicles are mainly stolen from shopping centres.

“The problem is that the suspects drive around, see a vehicle which they like and then follow it until it is left alone. The whole matter of actually stealing the vehicle takes a few minutes. So there aren't really "hotspots" as the vehicle will be taken when it is unwatched,” said Veenstra.

Veenstra said people should take note of the vehicles following them. She said when people park their cars at a shopping centre, they need to make contact with the car guard before going into the stores. They are there to watch your car.

In 2022, Tracker SA published safety tips on their website for motorists when they park their vehicles.

Tracker’s Vehicle Crime Index covering the period January to June 2022 reveal that incident volumes have increased to pre-Covid-19 lockdown levels across the country.

Nationally, the volume of vehicle theft is up 7%, and hijackings are up 4% over the last study period. The increase can be partly ascribed to increased car use after returning to work and to an increase in social events, as well as to new methods used by criminals and crime syndicates, like keyless entry theft.

Duma Ngcobo, chief operations officer at Tracker, said that while technology can provide convenience by allowing you to access your car without having to search for your keys, keyless access theft also highlights how criminals are turning to technology to make car theft easier.

The keyless access tactic involves a pair or team of criminals, one of whom follows a newer model vehicle owner as they walk away from a locked vehicle. Using a relay amplifier, a criminal can amplify the constantly transmitted signal received from the vehicle’s key fob to a criminal counterpart’s relay transmitter. The counterpart can then gain access to the vehicle via the transmitter and drive away with it.

Here are some precautions to take to prevent vehicle theft and becoming a victim:

1. If your car has keyless entry, spend money on a safe Faraday bag (also called a fob protector) to keep your key fob safe. This bag helps block key fob signals by being lined with multiple layers of metallic material, preventing signal interception by criminals.

2. To reduce the chance of the key amplification, place your key fob as far away from the entry point and your vehicle as you can, if the front of your house and your car are easily accessible, such as in highdensity or cluster-style living areas.

3. Try to park your keyless car behind a vehicle that requires a key to make sure it cannot be driven away without extra effort if your car is not parked securely behind a secured fence or in a garage while parked at home.

4. You can also turn off the keyless entry feature.

5. Before leaving your parked vehicle, make sure the doors are locked. After locking the doors in vehicles that require a key, always check again by lifting the handle because remote jamming is becoming more and more common among criminals.

6. When parking, pick a location that is well-lit and, if at all feasible, one that has cameras watching the parking lot and the activity of people walking about your car.

7. Use a steering wheel lock. Although they are considered ‘old-school’, they can be effective as a visual deterrent.

8. Install an immobiliser. While many cars have factory fitted immobilisers, there is merit in having an additional system installed. As an extra bonus your car insurance premium could possibly be reduced because of the additional deterrent.

9. Install CCTV to watch over your car when parked in your driveway and add a motion detector light. Both can act as a deterrent and provide additional peace of mind.

10. Consider installing or upgrading your vehicle tracking system to an option offering both theft retrieval and early notification of unauthorised movement, to ensure vehicle recovery protocols can be initiated immediately following a theft. Every minute counts!