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- Tracker says vehicle theft and hijacking cases among his clients increased six-fold in the first week of Level 4, compared to the start of the national shutdown period.
- Vehicle crime is expected to reach pre-closure levels, perhaps even as early as this week.
- According to police data, there were only 219 car theft cases from March 27 to April 22 this year, compared to 1,146 during the same period last year.
- For more articles, go to Business Insider home page.
Vehicle theft and kidnappings have increased as South Africa entered Level 4 of the blockade, according to new numbers from Tracker, the vehicle tracking and stolen vehicle recovery group that covers 1.1 million vehicles in South Africa.
Tracker reported a six-fold increase in vehicle recoveries in the first week of Tier 4, which began on May 1, compared to the first week of the national shutdown, which began on March 27.
Still, vehicle crime is still around 35% lower than before the start of the national blockade, in Tracker’s experience.
This was due to fewer vehicles on the road and an increased police presence, says Ron Knott-Craig, an operational services executive at Tracker South Africa. He hopes vehicle crime can reach pre-Covid-19 levels as early as this week.
Before closing, there was a 50/50 split between recoveries due to kidnappings and robberies. This changed in the first period of confinement, with kidnappings representing almost two thirds of the recoveries.
“Leaning toward kidnappings during confinement is most likely an opportunistic tactic in which criminals prey on vehicles outdoors, while most other vehicles would have been safely locked,” says Knott-Craig. “This reverted to a more even division during the extended lockout period where Tracker noted an increase in vehicle movement with more citizens on the road as regulations were relaxed.
The tracker has also seen a noticeable increase in vehicles destined for its loads, particularly food items and fast-moving consumables. Customers are also stealing their valuables and, in some cases, large amounts of cash.
According to the police, there were only 219 car theft cases from March 27 to April 22 this year, compared to 1,146 during the same period last year.
Murders were 72% lower during this time, while robbery with aggravating circumstances was 2,022 cases, out of the 6,654 cases reported in 2019.
But on Tuesday, Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted that since the country entered Level 4, crime has been on the rise.
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