Car part theft is steadily growing in South Africa, becoming more prevalent and rising into an illegal multimillion-rand industry. When a car is stolen, most of the time it’s because thieves want to strip it for its parts and resell them. A car’s popularity creates a spare parts market, and with that market comes a lucrative, black-market hustle.
With the rise of unemployment and unattainable living costs, it’s no surprise that we’ve reached this point. Keep reading this FAQ to learn more about stolen car parts and what you can do to keep your car safe.
You can stop thieves from stealing car parts by implementing a combination of passive and proactive safety measures. These include:
After stealing them, thieves usually sell car parts:
Whether car insurance covers stolen parts, despite the vehicle itself not being stolen, is dependent on the type of insurance you have. If you have a comprehensive insurance policy, then yes, insurance will likely cover your stolen parts. This could be subject to excess and certain limitations.
If your stolen car is recovered but has been stripped of parts, you should first contact the police, speak to your tracking provider, and then speak to your insurer. This is especially important when you consider the importance of classifying your vehicle and having it assessed post-incident. Get the car towed once the police have given clearance, then have your car reclassified by assessors and the police.
Car parts that aren't covered in car insurance are parts that have been affected by poor maintenance, general negligence, or standard wear & tear, regardless of which part is affected. Tyres & rims, cosmetic scratches, mechanical & electrical components, windscreen wipers, and brake pads are covered under comprehensive policies for things like theft or accidental damage, but not neglect or wear & tear.
Yes, dashcams can deter thieves from stealing car parts, but it’s never a guarantee, and the dashcam itself might present itself as an attractive car part to steal. If a thief sees the dashcam, they might be encouraged to move onto an easier target in fear of being recorded. But high-quality dashcams might be the perfect part to steal for some thieves as well.
The cars that are most targeted for car part theft are bakkie models and popular, well-known sedan builds. These car types are in high demand, extremely valuable and have a massive presence on South African roads. The more a car is present on the roads, the higher their demand, which feeds into the cycle of these crimes.
Yes, thieves do also target car batteries. They’re consistently in demand and are very easy for thieves to remove, but they’re also used as energy sources outside of powering vehicles, making them even more attractive. They’re also considered one of the easier parts to sell.
Most car part thefts occur in well-known high-risk areas (especially highly urban and isolated townships), but also shopping mall parking lots, workplace parking lots, and residential driveways. But it’s important to note that car theft can happen anywhere; some areas are just more vulnerable than others.
Cartrack can protect your carparts from being stolen by:
There isn’t one single device that’s the best, but a tracking device is the anti-theft tool for cars in South Africa that could be your best bet. A subscription GPS tracking device (from a reputable tracking company like Cartrack) is a powerful solution because it comes with support in the form of vehicle recovery, helpful app features and round-the-clock assistance.
Yes, activating Cartrack CarWatch may help protect car parts from being stolen, although the feature is more about early-warning alerts. CarWatch alerts you to unauthorised movement of your vehicle, so if someone tries to take the car, CarWatch will notify you and the Cartrack control room. This allows everyone to react quickly and efficiently.
