LIFESTYLE NEWS - 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?
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. 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.
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 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.
We provide these 7 tips to avoid falling victim to remote jammers:
- 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.
- Be aware of your surroundings and of suspicious people loitering around the parking area or sitting in cars.
- 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.
- 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.
- Never leave valuables in plain sight in the car.
- Always park in the safest location, where there are many other cars and security guards.
- Think about real-time car GPS tracking for added peace of mind.
Crime is undoubtedly one of the biggest areas of concern as it continues to affect all us on a daily basis.
Being security conscious should be a habit not an after thought.
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