In a recent report from Cartrack, the tracking company found 5,946 vehicles were stolen between October and December 2023. Vehicle crimes were up by 3% compared to the same months the year before. Owners of sedans, hatchbacks and coupes were the most affected, accounting for 2,754 of the total.
The numbers suggest a demand for affordable, readily available parts on the black market, driven by accessibility and how much easier it is to conceal and harder to trace parts than whole cars.
According to a spokesperson at MiWay, Siyakha Masiye, while motorists are adopting safety measures such as installing tracking devices, parking in well-lit areas and practising increased vigilance, carjackers are becoming more sophisticated. Data collected by the insurer suggest the most frequently stolen accessories include wheels, wheel caps, car batteries, sound equipment, vehicle mirrors and headlights.
Airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels and tyres are among those easier to hide and harder to trace.
Masiye said shops dealing in stolen car parts have an estimated trade value of about R442mn. This makes reselling car parts lucrative and less traceable than reselling stolen vehicles. Even car mechanics have been involved in the unlawful practice, sometimes replacing parts with faulty, cheaper ones during repairs.
