Three suspected truck-hijacking syndicate members have been arrested in Soweto, Johannesburg metro police said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the three, aged between 35 and 45, were suspected of staging 25 hijackings in the past three years.

They allegedly hijacked trucks transporting cigarettes in the Johannesburg area.

Minnaar said he did not have details about the arrests.

- SAPA

Hijacking and Car Insurance
Where are the hijack hotspots in Johannesburg and Pretoria?

We would like to urge all vehicle owners to also view:

• How to avoid being hijacked
• Hijack Prevention and Road Safety

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SAP / SAICB COOPERATION LEADS TO SYNDICATE ARRESTS

NINE ARRESTED BEFORE COMMERCIAL COURT FOR FRAUD

After a five month investigation by members from the Port Shepstone DPCI : Organised Crime unit and South African Insurance Crime Bureau (SAICB), nine people, believed to be part of a fraud syndicate, were arrested on 21 September 2011 afternoon and evening, for Fraud. The syndicate comprising of members from the same family, and who were operating in the Escort and Phoenix areas, were exposed as a result of intensive investigation by SAPS, SAICB and the assistance of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The accused bought vehicles from salvage yards from one of the syndicate family members and then the vehicles were registered in the names of other members of the syndicate in order to “create a record” for the vehicle. Corrupt officials assisted to register the vehicles which were not roadworthy. These vehicles were insured at various insurers (SAICB members) and accidents were staged with the syndicate members which resulted in multiple claims submitted. The industry’s loss amounts to approximately R2 million.

On Wednesday 21 September 2011 “Operation Facelift” was launched and DW/OFF Sydney Stahmer from Port Shepstone DPCI arrested the nine accused. Desmond Pillay, Bruce Pillay, Devon Pillay, Leona Pillay, Sarika Pillay, Magana Thulsi, Reshan Mohan, Jemaine Munilall and Sanphharam Jagesur appeared in Durban Commercial Crime court on the morning of 22 September 2011 and were released on bail. The case was remanded to 13 October 2011 for further investigation. More arrests are expected.

Hugo van Zyl, Chief Operating Officer of SAICB, is pleased with the investigation. He is particular proud of the co-operation between the SAPS, SAICB and the NPA which resulted in the positive results for the short term insurance industry.

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1. SAICB – Business and SAPS working successfully together to reduce insurance fraud
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It is estimated that approximately 85% of fatal road accidents in South Africa can be blamed on human error. Unfortunately very few of our road users can claim “error” as merely being negligent or failing to do something!

There simply are far too many instances of blatant disregard for the Rules of the Road!! Too many are skipping traffic lights, performing illegal and dangerous lane changes and not adhering to the warning signs next to the road!

Some even use the internet and the video channels on Youtube to boast about their speeding!!

View: Using the internet to boast about speeding? Your Insurer will not be impressed!!

Do you still know your traffic signs?

Driver error, poor judgement and a failure to obey the traffic signs and rules of the road are contributing to many vehicle accidents and car insurance claims.

We would like to invite visitors to refresh their knowledge about the traffic signs next to South African roads:

• Traffic Signs of South Africa

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We would like to share the email with our vehicle owners:

“Subject:

Incident of theft out of a motor vehicle at the Middelburg Ultra City

Message:

“ I wish to report that I had an incident of theft from my motor vehicle on 2 January 2011 around 17:00 at the Ultra City Middelburg.

We stopped with our white KIA Sportage, Reg nr YFF…GP to use the facilities and on return at the vehicle the back door was open and our digital camera to the value of about R7000-00 was stolen. It happened in a matter of a few minutes.

We made enquiries around but no one saw anything. I always lock the car and am sure I did before I left to the ladies room. The police officials who attended to the incident informed us that the criminals use a device that prevents the vehicle from locking by use of the remote control. We are sure that is what happened.

This however means that the insurance company did not approve our claim as there was no visible damage of a breaking into the vehicle.

I am very disappointed with this incident and will think twice before stopping at such facility again, and if nature calls and I need to stop I will not leave my vehicle unattended ever again when visiting such facilities.

I did not note any Security Officials at the Ultra City, but am sure there must have been. I am sure that security is increased and suspicious persons are being monitored during peak times, but it seems not to be enough if one considers that a theft from a vehicle can occur during a very busy time.

I must mention that this was not a good way of ending our holiday and beginning the new year.

I trust that this information will assist in assuring general security at the Ultra City.

All of the best for 2011 and I appreciate your assistance.

Kind Regards”

This incident is similar to one shared on the Car Insurance Blog in 2010 under the title “Be Alert to car thieves who jam immobilizers!”

We would like to share some safety suggestions included in this post:

Advice to Vehicle owners to avoid theft from their vehicles

We would like to offer some advice to our vehicle owners:

• Be alert and cautious to where you park your vehicle.
• It is best to park where there are many people around and in the vicinity of security cameras.
• Be on the lookout for people who are wandering around for no apparent reason.
• If you are spending time in a restaurant and it is possible – find a seat within view of your vehicle.
• Do not rush away from your vehicle without checking whether your vehicle is indeed secure.
• Wait for the “beeb” from the immobilizer – or even better – see that your doors are locked.
• Close all the windows of your vehicle

Criminals will find new innovative ways all the time to commit their crimes. Be alert and vigilant to avoid vehicle and property loss!!

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Car Insurers in Europe have warned motorists to be extra vigilant when defrosting their cars in the morning to avoid becoming a victim of frost-jacking.

What is frost –jacking?

There has been a spate of incidents up and down the UK where opportunist thieves have pounced on cars as the owners have left the engines running to warm up before heading off to work. It could be summarized as hijacking a vehicle where a vehicle owner leaves his vehicle engine running in the process of defrosting the windscreen. Even though a less violent type of hijacking, the financial consequences could be more severe!

Why is frost –jacking such a danger to vehicle ownership?

Car Insurers have warned that vehicle owner might not be covered for such vehicle loss by their car insurance policies as this kind of theft could invalidate the insurance policy. Leaving a car unattended with the engine running is an open invitation to thieves, and this could potentially leave your insurance cover void.

It has been reported that in just one week 50 frost-jacking incidents have been recorded in the West Midlands in Britain, with 3 attacks taking place within 20 minutes in the Greater Manchester area on a Monday morning. Vehicle thieves and hijackers are believed to be roaming the streets on the prowl for drivers leaving the cars running while they warm up and defrost their windscreens, so it’s vital drivers don’t leave their cars unattended to avoid becoming a victim of this kind of crime.

Vehicle owners have been warned to be extra vigilant and be attentive to where they park their cars and not to leave these vehicle unattended when the key is in the ignition!

We would like to urge vehicle owners to pay attention to vehicle security at all times!

Car Insurance and Crime

Car Insurance and Hijacking

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In a joint initiative with the South African Police (SAP) and the short term insurance industry through the South African Insurance Crime Bureau (SAICB), a pilot project was instituted to address concerns raised over the high percentage of stolen and recovered vehicles in the custody of the SAP in the Kwazulu Natal Province. It was agreed that the pilot project start at the Vehicle Identification and Safeguarding Section (VISS) in Isipingo, Durban.

A four month project with inception date 2 August 2010 has now finally drawn to a successful close on 26 November 2010.

An eight-man SAP project team was assigned to the project and along with representatives from the insurance industry, began the daunting task of identifying the vehicles and contacting the private owners and/or insurers of the vehicles to facilitate the recoveries.

The short term insurance industry also provided vehicle identification and recovery expertise through their personnel, and assisted the SAP in identification and release of vehicles. Protocols were also established to enhance expediency in the identification and releasing of stolen recovered vehicles. This project proved to be an example of what can be achieved when business and the SAP collaborate to address a problem that affects both. The insurers were not the only beneficiaries of this project, as the project also identified vehicles for uninsured owners of SA.

Any questions over the success of the project are best answered on reflection of what has been achieved within this short period. The results exceeded the expectations of the South African Police and the insurance industry and proves that such Public and Private sector partnerships can be beneficial to all those involved and the people of South Africa as well.

During the scope of the project the Intervention Team disposed of approximately 2500 vehicles and saved the insurance industry, the financial industry as well as the uninsured members of the public more than R18 million. In monetary terms, from the benefit and savings achieved, it is clear that this partnership has been an overwhelming success.

The SAICB are now working on rolling out this project to cover the KwaZulu Natal police station pounds and to eventually roll this out to the rest of the provinces with the permission and assistance of the SAP, to assist with addressing the backlogs. The SAICB is planning on extending the project to the surrounding countries, with a Lesotho pounds cleanup planned for early 2011.

The SAP has a legal obligation to recover, safeguard and to release stolen/recovered motor vehicles to persons who may lawfully take possession thereof free from any financial obligation.

The role players, Provincial Commissioner Lt. General B M Ngobeni, Maj. General J W Booysen, Brigadier SS Vezi, Project Leader Lt/Colonel Deckford and his staff, the SAICB, Hugo van Zyl and the representatives from the insurance industry involved, are commended for their outstanding achievement.

Quote by Hugo van Zyl:

“The SAICB was officially launched on 31 October 2008 and in just over two years has established itself not only as a valuable tool in the fight against insurance fraud and related crimes, but has also brought the various agencies working in the broader fight against commercial crime closer together to the benefit of all.”

“The SAICB is proud of the successful completion of this project and for the invaluable assistance of our members and their representatives who have spent the last four months diligently working on this project. The SAICB would also like to extend its gratitude to the SAP Kwazulu Natal, the Project team and management, in particular Lt Colonel Deckford and his management team and staff.”

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Question:

“How often does the SA arrive alive bad driving line follow up on cases reported? It would help to provide feedback just to restore our faith in these campaigns as a people!! This morning there was someone driving recklessly in front of me, from Booysens road down to Loveday South in Joburg CBD.

I decided to get off the road so as to avoid him as it was clear that it was me he was after, maybe because I was driving in a foreign registration. He kept cutting in front of me and stopping, then showing me the finger, every time I moved into another lane he would do this same, and all this in peak morning traffic. I then called Arrive Alive, but the lady I spoke to didn’t sound like she was going to do anything about it, prior to that I had called JMPD and they hung up on me, just like that!! Is there really any point in reporting this kind of things, I should I really just pull out a gun in shoot the offender?” Zanele

Answer:

Good morning Ms…

The National Traffic Call Centre sends out letters to vehicle owners notifying them of the incidents and calling on the drivers to comply with road traffic rules. The letter serves as the first line of changing driver behaviour and encourage voluntary law compliance, instead of an issued traffic fine. However, members of the public can report road rage and reckless and negligent driver behaviour at a police station in order for further legal action against the offender.

The full details are to be recorded and should there be some form of evidence, such as photos, video clips, etc. makes the case easier to be pursued further.

Hope you will find the above information helpful. Further information on the National Traffic Call Centre can be found on the Arrive Alive website under the Reports or on www.rtmc.co.za/callcentre/ link.

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Eyewitness News has learnt that a syndicate is targeting car dealerships across the Cape Peninsula. At least eight cars were stolen from dealerships and service centres in the last week. Dealerships targeted included the well-known Market Toyota and Barons Volkswagen.

Reeds N1 City dealer principal John Trollip has lost one vehicle to what he called “professional thieves”.

“We watched the camera and noticed that two suspects moved around the premises for about an hour and a half before taking the vehicle. These guys were dressed as sub-contractors working on our site.”

He added it was “definitely a syndicate going after specific vehicles.”

Market Toyota Regional managing director Peter Vermaak indicated that two of his vehicles were stolen from different dealerships in the last two weeks. These cars were worth more than R500,000.

He said police have told him that a special task team has been set up to investigate the thefts.

Vermaak added that the motor industry could not afford such losses.

(Story by Chantal Presence, Edited by Lisa Bartlett appeared on Eyewitness news)

Also view:

Vehicle theft and car insurance

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With many crimes it is easy for us to shrug the shoulders and not to be involved. If someone commits tax fraud we might believe that this is merely a matter between the accused and the prosecution or tax authorities. With insurance fraud the crime is unfortunately having an impact on our own pockets as well – and we feel the effects that this has on our increasing insurance premiums!

Fraudsters are the main reason car insurance premiums are believed to soar even more, according to insurers. These fast escalating car insurance premiums are often pricing young vehicle owners out of the market and are encouraging more people to risk driving without insurance, one of the key reasons that premiums are rising so fast.

Telling lies, false and fraudulent claims

Research in the UK has revealed that more people seem prepared to lie to insurers. According to some researchers a third of motorists would cheat their car insurer by making a fraudulent claim to ensure a successful car insurance payout, with younger motorists the most likely to lie.

We have previously emphasized the importance for careful attention to detail – and to focus on the terms and conditions of car insurance. Only this attention to detail will ensure that vehicle owners understand their rights and obligations and are able to avoid the risks of submitting fraudulent claims.

Tackling fraud requires Public Private Partnerships

The South African Insurance Crime Bureau is focused on addressing organised fraud and crime in the short term insurance industry, as well as to identify repeat offenders and fraudsters that target multiple insurance companies.

For the SAICB to achieve its aim of reducing fraud and crime within the financial industry, it needs to work very closely with the policing and justice entities in South Africa, and to this end, has spent a huge amount of time and resources working with the SAPS, NPA and the Hawks and building the strong relationships that will help them with their mission and vision for the industry.

This close working relationship has resulted in several projects being identified and implemented to assist SAPS in achieving their renewed commitment to tackle crime in all its guises, while assisting the industry in addressing the crime and fraud committed against it.

Reporting Car Insurance Fraud

The best you can do for family and friends is to assist in curbing escalating car insurance premiums. We all have a responsibility to do more than merely shrug the shoulders….Report insurance fraud!!

View: South African Insurance Crime Bureau

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The Arrive Alive website received an email from a regular visitor with a message and warning of signs of vehicle damage that might well alert us of other dangers. We believe it is important to share this message with our vehicle owners:

“They have a new way to rob you now! What will they think of next!

A friend sent me this email and I am sending it on to my Friends Wednesday, I approached my truck from the passenger side to place my computer bag in the front passenger seat.

As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, “someone has shot my truck!”

I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the “light” slowly began to come on. I phoned my friend who owns a body shop and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole.

“Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key.
No alarms, broken glass or anything. I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary!

“Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don’t even realize it. They look at your GPS to see where “home” is.

Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn’t there they assume you aren’t and break in your home.”

He says they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards.

By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple days or more to use them. I didn’t realize my situation for two full days!

They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. Periodically walk around your car, daily if you are in a shopping center or other parking area.
Report thefts immediately…. your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc.”

( Above is picture of what the hole looks like )

Also view:

Car Insurance and Crime

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