It's not so much the joyride that thieves are after, but the car parts that can be resold on the black market. As previously reported, the South African Police Service’s latest report shows that approximately 66 cars are being stolen daily, which is a 6.5% rise from the previous year. Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index, with data collected from its over 1.
This bootleg market is pretty lucrative, with second-hand bakkie tailgates so desirable to criminals that prices start from around R2,500 on the illicit market, noted Cartrack. Data from insurance company MiWay is on the same track as Cartrack, noting that the most frequently stolen accessories include car wheels, wheel caps, car batteries, sound equipment, vehicle mirrors, and headlights. Although all cars have these components, some models are more of a target than others.