How safe are we in expensive cars? I get to drive some pretty expensive metal now and then and it’s easy to forget about the dangers that go with it, especially in our country where criminals have free rein.

I’ve watched a number of videos where villains target expensive cars - not necessarily to steal them but to grab what may be inside. If you see a R1-million car on the road, chances are the driver has a fancy watch, a nice cell phone and possibly a top quality laptop somewhere in the car. He might even have a few hundred Rand notes in his wallet. Women tend to wear expensive jewellery and their handbags are full of goodies.

Proof of this was when I watched a video of a guy who had stopped his Porsche at a filling station. He got out, went into the shop and when he was getting back into his car, criminals pulled up behind him in a white Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Two of them jumped out with guns in hand. They ambushed the driver of the Porsche, waving a gun in his face; the second thief opened the passenger door and began grabbing bags, his cell phone and other items. Within moments the criminals fled the scene leaving the victim bewildered.  

To add to this, I once wanted to leave a Mercedes-Benz AMG GTS outside my friend’s house because it was too low to get down the driveway. My friend told me it would be better if I take the car home and fetch another one as criminals, who prowl the empty streets, might target the car because it screams wealth. I did as he suggested and that got me thinking… How bad is it that we can’t even leave a fancy car parked in the street outside a friend’s house because criminals might pounce?

As times get tougher, so do criminals. They’re targeting premium luxury vehicles more and more these days. Chances are, if you drive a luxury car, you probably live in a luxury house and have many valuable luxury items. If this is the case, you, my friend, are the perfect target for miscreants; they are organized and well-equipped.

So what can you do to avoid being a target?

Unfortunately, if criminals want what you have, they’ll take it! However, making it extra difficult for them might deter them - to a point. I‘ve come up with some tips on how to keep you and your car safer:

1. Don’t get all flustered. When you park your car at a shopping centre, be sure to stand by your vehicle when you lock it. Make sure it is locked before you walk away. I’ve seen so many people get out their cars while on the phone, bags in hand. They lock the car while walking away, oblivious to the potential signal-jamming that might be going on. Remember, criminals see you before you see them;
2. When you get back to your car, no matter where you are, look around and be aware of your surroundings. Make sure the key is in your hand before you get to the car. Many people are robbed because they’re fumbling for the car keys while holding shopping bags, talking on the phone and holding their child at the same time;
3. When you get into your car, lock the doors immediately, turn the car on and get going. So many people sit in their cars with the windows open and the doors unlocked while texting or fumbling for coins for the car guards;
4. Do not leave bags of any sort within the cabin. Handbags are prime items for criminals. Don’t say that you put your handbag under your seat. A friend of mine did just that; the hooligan still saw it and smashed her window; he managed to grab the handbag from under her legs. Put your handbag and any other bag, in the boot. This goes for laptop bags and even gym bags;
5. Do not resist or fight criminals! Your car, however important to you, is just a car. Criminals these days have no regard for life. If you fight them they will retaliate and chances are you won’t win. They are organised cowards who operate in groups. If they want to grab your possessions, just step back and let them. Your belongings are replaceable - your life isn’t!
6. When you leave your house or when you go home, look out for suspicious vehicles in your street. If you have an electric gate, open it before you get to it so you can drive straight into your yard, then quickly close the gate. Do not become a sitting duck; mobility can be a big advantage in a situation.

If you’ve been a victim of a hijacking or a smash-and-grab of if you have advice for our readers, then do write to us and let us know how you handled your particular situation. We, as a community, need to stick together and help one another.