Syndicates suspected as truck hijackings surge
Truck hijackings in 2014/15 increased by 29.1%, to 1 279 incidents, compared with 2013/14’s 991 incidents – this according to statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Truck hijackings numbered 943 in 2012/13 and 821 in 2011/12.
The continued and “disturbing” increase has a parallel in shopping centre robberies, believes Institute of Security Studies (ISS) senior researcher Dr Johan Burger.
Both these crimes are typically committed by syndicates.
Crime syndicates target high-end goods in shopping centres, such as jewellery, exclusive clothing brands and technology products, such as cellphones.
Shopping centre robberies have increased by 142% over the last three years, says Burger.
Despite this, urban shopping centres traditionally have good security measures in place, through private security firms, with the SAPS normally close by, he adds.
Trucks transporting the same goods – and commodities such as petrol and diesel – however, have fewer security measures in place, and they often have to travel at night and in remote areas.
It is also costly for all trucks to be escorted by armed guards.
“The point is: It is more difficult to counter truck hijackings than shopping mall robberies. Trucks are more vulnerable. In shopping centres, you can exercise access control, or you can carry less stock.”
Does this mean truck hijackings cannot be prevented?
Trucks can carry lower volumes, or the number of escorted trucks can be increased, says Burger.
This, however, creates the risk of road users being caught in the crossfire.
The only real solution is improved policing, says Burger.
“However, our crime intelligence is severely lacking. Crime threat analysis production has dropped 50% over the last three years.
“This means that the police have lost 50% of their sight. They know 50% less than they should know.”
Burger adds that the best way to tackle crime syndicates is to identify, infiltrate and neutralise them. However, this requires the SAPS crime intelligence unit to operate at full speed.
Comments
The
content
you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.
If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.
For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation