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It’s not so much the joyride that thieves are after, but the car parts that can be resold on the black market.

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

Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index, with data collected from its over 1.1 million subscriptions, show that hijackings accounted for 55% of all vehicle crime incidents across the nation, while theft accounted for 45%.

However, Cartrack warns that it is really vehicle component theft that is on the rise in South Africa, with certain cars being targeted for specific items that are in high demand for illicit trading.

The prominent car-tracking company noted that airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels, and tyres are among the most stolen parts, per BusinessTech.

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.

It turns out this illicit trading is a quicker and more profitable alternative to reselling entire stolen 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.

While it is seasoned thieves who get involved from the get-go, car mechanics are also getting in on the deal, engaging in dishonest practices, such as replacing car parts with faulty, cheaper ones while repairing vehicles.

This bootleg market is pretty lucrative, with second-hand bakkie tailgates so desirable to criminals that prices start from around R2,500 on the illicit market, noted Cartrack.

Data from insurance company MiWay is on the same track as 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.

Indeed, the targets of hijacking and car thefts in South Africa follow the trends of supply and demand in the market. In other words, the first and second best-selling car brands in the country are the most targeted as demand for their parts rises. That is the Hilux bakkie and the VW Polo – prime targets for thefts of wheels, airbags, tailgates and headlights.

This has become so rampant for the car brands that both Toyota and VW have said they are working on solutions to combat this problem.

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.

Mall parking lots as well as schooling and sporting event areas are prime hotspots for thefts in South Africa.

[source:businesstech]