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The crime stats for quarter three (October to December 2024) were recently released. Vehicle-related crimes show an encouraging decrease in most spheres but remain very high. Other areas saw increases including the carjacking of business owned vehicles.
The crime stats in more detail
- 4 807 carjackings were recorded – a year-on-year decrease of 19.5%
- On average 52 cars are hijacked each day
- There were 7 791 vehicle thefts – a decrease of 18.3%
- Hijack of trucks decreased by 14%
- Theft out of or from vehicles decreased by 12.9%
- There were 17 less cash-in-transit heists
- Drunk driving increased by 11.2%
- Road rage is in the top 5 for most common causes of violent crime
- Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal were the top 3 provinces for vehicle crime
- Carjackings are responsible for 56% of all vehicle crime (Tracker Crime Index)
- Theft accounts for 44% of vehicle crime (Tracker Crime Index)
- More vehicles are hijacked on Fridays and between 16h00 and 21h00. (Tracker Crime Index)
- Theft is mainly reported on Saturdays, also between 16h00 and 21h00. (Tracker Crime Index)
- Business-owned vehicles are twice as likely to be hijacked (Tracker Crime Index)
- In Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal more personal vehicles are stolen than hijacked, at 52% and 61%, respectively.
- Car jamming is one of the most prevalent crimes at shopping malls (Fidelity)
- During 2024, follow-home attacks were on the rise (Fidelity)