Car thieves making use of old trick
Car thieves are increasingly using car remote jamming – both to steal vehicles and to steal valuables from them.
Car remote jamming is once again becoming a popular method of stealing cars. It is a persistent problem in the country, frequently surfacing as drivers become less vigilant.
Criminals targeting luxury vehicles more
According to Santam, an insurance company, there has been an increase in stealing more high-end vehicles, particularly those that do not need a key to open. This is the case in both hijacking and car remote jamming techniques.
IOL reported that Marius Kemp, the head of personal lines at Santam, stated that the company has noticed that this trend has continued to worsen over the last two years.
“We have seen a significant rise in crime-related vehicle claims for both theft and hijacking with the trend continuing to worsen over the last two years, particularly for high-value vehicles.”
Marius Kemp
What is car remote jamming?
When car thieves use the method of remote jamming, they use a device that interferes with the signal that a vehicle’s remote sends to the vehicle to lock the doors. The devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can interfere with various wireless equipment.
According to Top Auto, criminals who use remote jamming often work in pairs. One of the criminals stays close to the targeted vehicle and the other follows the driver to intercept the radio wave signal sent from the keyless remote to the receiver unit.
Vehicle theft is not the only concern
In addition to stealing vehicles, car thieves often use this method to steal valuables inside the vehicles – a fairly effortless thing to do if a vehicle is unlocked as thieves can open the vehicle and steal what is inside without raising suspicion or seeming to be doing something illegal. This is especially easy if the thieves know the driver will be away from the vehicle for a while, e.g. if the driver is visiting someone at a hospital or attending a church service.
Tips to avoid falling victim to remote jamming
Fidelity Head of Marketing and Communications, Charnel Hattingh, has the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of car remote jamming crime:
- Check your vehicle’s doors to make sure that they are locked before walking away. Thieves who use remote jamming rely on people walking away without checking.
- Be aware of your surroundings and suspicious people loitering around the parking area or sitting in cars.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Report suspicious-looking people to security or move your car to a safer place.
- Remember when you open your boot, everyone 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.
- Never leave valuables in plain sight in the car.
Do you check your car’s doors before walking away when you park in a public place? Were you aware of remote jamming as a method that criminals use?
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