What do you need to know about the growing crime of electronic devices – ‘key jammers’ – that prevent cars from locking?

Transmitters of this nature can be conveniently acquired online and serve to interfere with the signal emitted by the key fob. Consequently, negligent drivers may assume their car is protected, although it is actually vulnerable.

This situation allows for the possibility of thieves to appropriate your belongings or even your automobile.

A relatively low-powered signal jammers can have a range of up to around 75 meters, indicating that a significant area, such as a complete car park, can be influenced at the same time.

Nevertheless, offenders utilizing wifi blocker can launch their attacks in a wide range of settings, extending beyond merely public car parks.

As I got out of bed to prepare for my workday, I ventured outside and noticed that every car door was securely shut.

It was a startling revelation when I realized I had secured the car, particularly as I was at my boyfriend's home and had left my Christmas presents within. Upon inspecting the interior, we were horrified to see that the entire car had been overturned and all valuable items had been stolen.

At first, the police indicated that they were unable to assist. They refused to send an officer to investigate for fingerprints due to the lack of evident signs of forced entry. Nevertheless, when I reached out to my bank to cancel my card, I learned that the thief had been actively using my contactless card. This information led the police to engage more thoroughly with the situation.

They are currently examining the CCTV recordings in the hopes of apprehending the suspects.

How can you make sure your car is secure?

To confirm with certainty that a car is secured, one must conduct a manual check. Numerous vehicles provide supplementary signals indicating that the locks are engaged, such as blinking lights, mirrors that fold in, or a quick honk of the horn.

Should you be near the automobile, you might also detect the audible click of the central locking system securing itself.、

Deputy Chief Superintendent Jukes stated that individuals need to be watchful regarding electronic breaches such as this.

We encourage individuals to be attentive to their vehicles and possessions in order to minimize opportunities for criminal behavior. This entails verifying that the vehicle is properly locked and taking any valuable items with them when exiting the vehicle.

A sophisticated approach to ensuring the safety of your vehicle may include investing in a car jam detector, which is designed to trigger an alarm when it identifies a jam.

Will insurance companies cover such thefts?

Ms. Dover pointed out a significant challenge for victims; they not only lose their personal items but also have no way to prove that they inadvertently left the car unlocked. Most insurance companies typically do not provide coverage for theft in cases where the vehicle is left unattended and unsecured.

As stated by the Financial Ombudsman, a significant number of insurers exclude theft coverage if the vehicle is left unattended and not locked.

To establish that a car lock is indeed jammed, one must capture the thief, although a consistent pattern of thefts may provide substantial evidence.

An investigation has been initiated by Thames Valley Police regarding 14 recent thefts of lorries, vans, and cars, where there were “no obvious signs of break-in” present.

In the last fortnight of November, multiple theft incidents were reported at service stations situated on the M4 motorway in Berkshire.