Anyone who has fallen victim to remote jamming will know that sinking feeling when you open your boot and there’s nothing there – no laptop, no handbag, no gym shoes. You look around, dumbfounded. My car was locked. How did this happen?
According to Charnel Hattingh, Fidelity Services Group, Group Head of Marketing and Communications, remote jamming is nothing new but it’s not getting old for criminals either. In fact, it is on the increase.
Remote jamming is when thieves jam the signal from the immobiliser to the car, so it doesn’t lock even when the owner presses the ‘lock’ button. A remote jammer is any device that deliberately blocks, jams or interferes with authorised wireless communications.
Hattingh simplifies this definition by explaining remote jamming like this – Imagine two people, one is talking and the other is listening. But, behind the person talking is a loud sound system. The person listening will not hear the other talking, only the sound system.
Likewise, your car remote is the one talking and the car is listening to the remote for instructions. The jammer is the ‘sound system’ in the above scenario and it is overpowering the car’s ability to listen to the instructions from the remote.
“Jamming can interfere with various types of wireless equipment, including the alarm panel, cellphone communication, detectors, fleet tracking systems and radio reporting to a control room,” Hattingh explains.
“It goes well beyond your and my car in a shopping centre parking area. These criminals are not only committing theft out of motor vehicles but also theft of motor vehicles, hijacking of vehicles/trucks and cargo and house and business robberies by using remote jamming.”
“This well-practiced tactic is especially alive and well in public places because, sadly, motorists continue to be vulnerable to it.”
She highlights that remote jamming is prevalent in parking areas at shopping malls and petrol stations, and that the thieves are often so brazen they don’t even leave the area after hitting their mark, but continue to target others.
“These criminals rely on the ability to blend in while people go about their business of parking and shopping and not checking that their cars are locked, or observing anything around them.
“While security guards and car guards are on high alert for these criminals, remember it is effortless for the thieves to approach a car, open it, pop the boot, take what they want and walk off – they’re not breaking into a car; they aren’t even concerned about what car security devices or vehicle anti-theft systems you may have.
“A passerby may think the thief is the owner of the car – if they notice them at all. And, they breeze through access control systems when they drive out because they seldom draw attention to themselves.”
Something to think about for insurance purposes, Hattingh adds, is that since there is often no damage or signs of a break-in, insurance companies can refuse to cover the stolen items, unless you are with an insurer that stipulates this type of crime is covered.
“While it is reassuring to know you could be covered, the best scenario is to avoid the trauma that comes with being a victim of remote jamming, which is something that can be prevented, with heightened vigilance.
“A saving grace with an insurance claim may be that most shopping centres and especially garage forecourts have business security systems, like CCTV, which may help your case – or at least help you understand what happened.”
So, as thieves become increasingly resourceful, it is up to vehicle owners to ensure their vehicle and belongings remain safe.
Fidelity provides these 7 tips to avoid falling victim to remote jammers:
1. Never lock your car and walk away. Check the doors to see if they are in fact locked. If your door opens, get in and drive away. Chances are that the criminals have targeted you.
2. Be aware of your surroundings and of suspicious people loitering around the parking area or sitting in cars.
3. Look around as you drive in and before you park. Follow your gut instinct and report suspicious-looking people to security or move your car to a safer place.
4. Remember that when you open your boot everyone around you can see what’s inside, especially if they are eagerly waiting for this. A boot with a visible laptop or other valuables can make you an instant target.
5. Never leave valuables in plain sight in the car.
6. Always park in the safest location, where there are many other cars and security guards.
7. Think about real-time car GPS tracking for added peace of mind.
“South Africans have voted in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Crime is undoubtedly one of the biggest areas of concern as it continues to affect all us on a daily basis.
“Elections or not, we can vote to stay safe by increasing vigilance and using common sense. Being security conscious should be a habit not an after-thought,” Hattingh concludes.