The City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng has issued a warning to motorists to remain vigilant at fast food drive-thrus due to an alarming trend of criminal activities and scams. The South African Police Service (SAPS) officials have observed a rising trend of criminal activity at these locations. An increasingly popular method used by criminals in South Africa is to target vehicles when they are trapped and unable to move, such as on a motorway off-ramp or while paying for a parking ticket. Fast food drive-thrus are the latest hotspot for attempted robberies, with incidents of thieves barricading a targeted victim's car while in the queue to order and pick up their food. With the individual unable to escape, the thieves, usually armed, rob them of their personal belongings such as handbags and cellphones or may even try to hijack the car. In hijacking cases, the criminals typically wait until the target is near the front of the queue, giving them a better chance to make a quick getaway. Security experts have provided advice to avoid becoming a victim of these attempts, including keeping bags in the boot, having cash and cards on hand, avoiding dimly lit or isolated retail establishments, keeping windows and doors closed, ordering food at peak times, and not taking children with you to the drive-thru.
