Hijacking

Vehicle hijacking at gun-point, also known as "carjacking", has become one of the most serious threats to mission and project staff overseas.  In some countries this form of theft has existed for decades, but it has become far more widespread in the last 20 years.

Hijacks can occur in almost any country but they have been most prevalent in:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Iraq, Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.

If you have heard recent reports of hijackings in these or any other countries please let us know.

In many cases hijacks are carried out by bandits from neighbouring countries who then disappear back across unmanned borders in the bush.  For this reason (and their re-saleability) the most popular target vehicles are 4x4's with good off-road performance,.

Apart from avoiding a 4x4 altogether or buying a highly expensive armoured vehicle (at 3-4 times the cost), there is little one can do to protect oneself from armed hijackers but there are precautions which can reduce the risks :

Most hijacks occur at a road-block in a rural area, away from villages (unlike most "official" roadblocks). This may be a simple oil drum and a branch of a tree or it may be set up to look like an accident or mechanical breakdown.

• Wherever possible, and especially if you have a 4x4, try to drive in a convoy.
• Avoid travelling after dark
• Before leaving, zero your odometer and radio / phone in your position regularly.
• Approach groups of people on rural roads with caution. If you are at all suspicious try to avoid stopping and drive on.  If your path is blocked and it is clearly an "official" military road-block, or if weapons are visible and / or raised, do not attempt to drive through.  Transmit your position and stop.
• If as you are pulling up you suspect that one of the men is about to threaten you with a weapon and tell you to get out of the car, you can either:

1. Comply and be as civil as possible - or.
2. Try to discourage them by looking back down the road, glancing at your watch, and saying: "is there a village nearby where we can get a drink and wait for our friends?"  Or: "Is there a garage near here? We have a problem with our engine." Either may just encourage them to wait for another vehicle.

Unfortunately hijacking is not confined to rural areas, and we hear increasing reports of cases in town.  The highest risk areas appear to be:

1. At an intersection where the bandit will stroll up to the car, as if to sell something and then pull a weapon.  You may be told to move into the passenger seat or more likely he will get in beside you. If you are hijacked at a busy intersection you will probably be kept in the vehicle until you can be dropped off at a spot where it is more difficult to raise the alarm.
2. On arrival at the entrance to your property where they will sometimes drive up behind you (to block your vehicle against the gate).
3. On returning to your parked car. The hijacker may already have broken in and be concealed in the rear.

• Keep alert and look out for cars following you closely, strangers loitering near your driveway or any other suspicious behaviour. If in doubt, drive on,
• Ensure that ALL your doors are locked at all times. Set your power locks / central locking so that the driver's lock locks all - but remember this also unlocks all.
• Drive with the windows closed whenever possible; air-conditioning is also a safety feature!
• If the person approaching you says he's with the police, request ID before opening windows or doors.

If the hijacker is in the car, with you at the wheel and if circumstances and your judgement permit, you could also consider; "accidentally" bumping the car in front of you.  This will cause a rumpus and the attacker may well jump out and run off.

If at any time it looks as if you are going to have to chose between losing your vehicle or fighting to keep it; LET IT GO! Your safety must be the top priority. Hijackers are often nervous and will use their weapons at the slightest provocation.

If the vehicle you are running belongs to your employer, the following could also reduce the chances of a hijack:

• PAINT your logo on it, in as many places as possible - including the roof. (Stickers can be peeled off).
• Better still, drill / rivet your organisation's name and country into the door panels.
• Sandblast the organisation's name and the vehicle's VIN on all windows.

Finally, there is the concealed, immobiliser switch option : this is an electronic device which can be activated by the driver at any time if there appears to be a danger of the vehicle being stolen.  It works on a delayed timing basis, and will stop the engine after a pre-determined time or distance. This would cause the vehicle to stop after say; 8 kms / 5 miles, or five or ten minutes.

It is best for the delay not to be too short, particularly in a rural area where you could be dropped too far from help. They may come back and ask what you did to the vehicle! (This has happened).

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