Police advice to businesses on truck hijackings

Police are urging business people to use more advanced technological devices – especially on goodsin-transit – in dealing with crime syndicates who benefit from truck hijackings.

According to Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, the police have identified truck hijackings as an increasingly popular method for crime syndicates to steal goods – especially technogical equipment, household goods and groceries.

Although police are working on several strategies in dealing with truck hijackings and syndicates who hijack these trucks (sometimes posing as members of the law enforcement agencies), Dlamini says much more can be done to thwart crime by industries and companies in the transport industry.

He said criminals often used jamming devices during hijackings to delay tracking of the trucks while they were off-loading the goods, and at a later stage some of these trucks were abandoned.

“Police believe business people and companies should also protect their stock by irregular insertion of tracking devices on their stock, as this may be one of the most effetive methods of tracing the stock and helping the police to arrest those who are in possession of stolen goods.

“This may also lead to the identification of crime syndicates,” said Dlamini.

He said experience had also shown that some truck drivers and employees of the industries and business did collude with crime syndicates.

“Employees are continuously recruited by crime syndicates with a promise of extra income, and therefore industries and business owners must exercise stricter control to their employees especially those who are exposed to valuable goods-in-transit.

“Theft by employees and crime prevention in general must be regarded in a very serious light,” Dlamini added. – Citizen reporter

Employees are continuously recruited by crime syndicates with a promise of extra income, and therefore industries and business owners must exercise stricter control to their employees Lieutenant- Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, Gauteng police spokesperson