From playing pretense cars when we were still young, buying a car is a dream that almost every person has had. When that dream comes to life, one feels a level of accomplishment, looking forward to an easy way of travel.
This accomplishment sadly, can sometimes be forcefully stripped away from its owners by those who feel entitled to other people’s cars, thieves and hijackers. The South African Police Services has reported a 15% increase in car hijackings as compared to 2019, pushing the number to an alarming 30%.
Below is all you need to know about the most hijacked cars in South Africa as per insurance comparer Hippo.
Hippo states that according to Fidelity ADT, the most commonly stolen cars in South Africa are, by brand,
- Toyota, accounting for 31.6% of recorded incidents.
- VW coming in at 14.1%
- Ford following at 10.4%.
The insurance comparer adds that looking further into model specifics one is likely to find that while the popular Volkswagen Polo has long been targeted by thieves including those simply looking to steal parts from parked cars, the segment-topping Toyota Hilux bakkie and its Fortuner SUV sibling regularly sit atop the list of the most frequently hijacked vehicles in the country.
Joined by stablemates like the Prado, Land Cruiser and the since-discontinued Etios hatch, these Toyota-badged models are often either stolen and stripped for parts or moved quickly across our borders.
The venerable Nissan NP200 half-ton bakkie offers proven reliability and durability — qualities that local thieves are similarly drawn to. Larger and altogether more comfortable than the Nissan, the modern Ford Ranger double cab is another regular target. Ironically, a white exterior colour, which is likely to secure you both a better resale value on your vehicle and a cheaper insurance premium, is also the most popular colour among thieves and carjacking syndicates.
If you compare the above most commonly stolen cars to the vehicles in the current top 10 best-selling cars in South Africa, you’ll notice many overlaps, with the Polo, Hilux, NP200 and Ranger making the cut on both lists. While these cars no doubt hold appeal for car thieves, it’s also important to mention that cars that feature on the bestselling vehicles list are statistically more likely to be stolen simply because there are more of them on the road.
For a listing of affordable cars to suit your pocket, click here.
Also see: Reasons why second hand cars are always a good idea
