Spike in theft of

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 Public

Eye 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 and 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 tracking units 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