BRITS POS – BRITS Remote jamming is one of the most prolific methods for vehicle theft in South Africa, and it’s becoming increasingly prevalent as more and more cars rely on signals instead of physical keys.
Durban Metro Police recently tracked down a sophisticated syndicate hiding out in the township of Umlazi.Upon apprehending the suspects and searching the premises, it found several suspicious items frequently used in instances of car theft, including an unlicensed firearm with its serial number filed off, live rounds of ammunition, and a remote signal jammer.
How car remote jamming works Vehicle telematics firm Cartrack clarifies that a signal jammer disrupts the radio signal sent from your car key by blasting out the same frequencies to effectively create a signal-blocking effect.
“Imagine radio signals as voices trying to be heard in a crowded room,” said Cartrack.
“A jammer acts like a speaker, blasting loud music on the same frequencies used by cell phones and GPS devices. This interference drowns out the legitimate signals or voices, preventing normal communication.”
From the image above, we can see that some of the antennas on the jammer are marked with wireless communication standards such as 3G, 4G, 5G, Wifi, and GSM – covering a wide range of frequencies often employed in modern tech.
Criminals use these sophisticated devices to block or jam the radio signal sent from a car key to the vehicle.
In practice, the thief keeps an eye on their target and presses a button on the jammer the second the victim presses the lock button on their key fob, keeping the car unlocked as they walk off and giving the criminals easy access while allowing them to get away without leaving evidence behind.
The apparatus can even block vehicle trackers, rendering it extremely difficult to track down stolen cars. Cartrack explains that signal jammers were first developed for military usages like overriding or obscuring a target signal and confusing enemy communications or radar.Over the years, however, they’ve found their way into the hands of the public and they are now employed in many different crimes as effective prevention techniques for blocking calls and internet access, which can disrupt emergency response and communication with authorities.
Criminals also use it to conceal their location by messing up vehicle tracker signals to evade capture.
To avoid becoming a victim, Cartrack recommends:
Using a steering wheel lock
Keeping your valuables well hidden
Staying vigilant when parking and locking your car
You can also go as far as etching your VIN onto all major parts in the car. This will enable authorities to track the movements of the components, which can prove invaluable in taking down well-organised syndicates. “All in all, signal jammers can cause chaos by disrupting personal and public communication while affecting logistics and business activities, which is why they are illegal and considered dangerous in most parts of the world,” said Cartrack.
