Service station thieves use car key jammer

Police have warned that thieves are using radio signal jammers to steal from cars parked at motorway service stations.

Thames Valley Police said the transmitters could be used to "interrupt" the signal for the remote key, thereby preventing the vehicle from being locked properly.

Police said 14 truck, van and car thefts had been reported recently, but there were "no obvious signs of burglary."

It advised motorists to check their vehicles before leaving them unattended.

Burglaries were reported in the Chieveley, Reading and Membury service areas on the M4 in Berkshire in the last two weeks of November.

How does a radio jammer work?

The remote key has a unique signal that is transmitted from the remote key to the car via radio waves. Portable jammer suppress the signal from the owner's key and interfere with this communication.

These devices can be used on a large scale, theoretically allowing thieves to cover an entire parking lot.

Potential thieves rely on drivers to press the lock button on the keychain but forget to double-check that the vehicle is secure, thereby leaving it open for easy access.

More modern vehicles that use keyless entry may also be vulnerable.

Car key Jammer: What you need to know

With tech-savvy thieves reportedly using electronic devices (" key jammers ") to prevent car locks, what do you need to know about this growing crime?

The transmitters, which are easy to buy online, can be used to interrupt the keychain's signal, meaning careless motorists will think their car is safe when in fact it is not.

This gives thieves an easy way to steal your belongings or even the car itself.

A relatively low-power gps blocker has a range of about 75m, which means that a considerable area (such as an entire parking lot) could be affected at the same time.

But wifi blocker wielding scammers can strike anywhere, not just public parking lots.

Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes, of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said although he believed the problem was minor at the moment, it was "a growing feature of vehicle crime".

"The Vehicle Crime Intelligence Unit is working closely and extensively with a number of partners, including the Home Office and car manufacturers, to develop solutions to prevent this crime now and in the future."

Loran Dover contacted the BBC to say the incident had happened to her on a residential street in Leeds.

"When I got up to get ready for work, I went outside and found all the car doors closed.

"When I knew I'd locked the car, I was mortified to think I'd just left it behind - I was staying at my boyfriend's house and had to leave Christmas presents in the car. But when we actually looked inside, the whole car was ransacked and everything of value had been taken.

"The police initially said they would not take any action. No one was even sent to check for fingerprints, because there were no obvious signs of a break-in. But when I called the bank to cancel my card, the thieves kept using it." Non-contact type. That's when the police really got involved and took the matter more seriously.

"They are currently watching CCTV and hopefully they will catch them."

Any car equipped with electronic locks is at risk from signal jammers.

There has been an appeal for South Africans to help identify the person seen in the video about the signal jammer and how it works.

The video was shared widely on social media and quickly went viral.

It is unclear who this person is, but Crime in SA on Twitter plagiarized a post from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and appealed to South Africans to come forward with information about the person.

"Unidentified individuals are showing off signal jammers on social media. These devices are used by criminals to block tracking devices and cell phone signals. Let's help police identify this person of interest."

While some comments on the post claim possessing the device is not a crime, crimes in South Australia suggest otherwise.

"Some people are saying that this man cannot be arrested because he has such a device, let us put their doubts to rest. Failure to provide satisfactory service under section 82 of Act 129 of the Third Amendment Act 1993 reports of possession of equipment or items.

"Any person who is in possession of a device or article which is reasonably suspected to have been used or intended to be used to break into or unlawfully enter a motor vehicle, but who is unable to do so; any person who can satisfactorily prove that possession of such device or article , that is, committing a criminal offence," he tweeted.

How signal jammers work

Any vehicle with electronic locks carries the risk of signal interference.

Since signal cell phone blocker are widely available on the Internet, this gadget prevents telematics devices from transmitting their location to vehicle tracking service providers.

Criminals buy illegal GSM and gps jamming devices on the black market and then use them to hijack vehicles and trucks.

These devices can be small handheld devices or large industrial jamming devices the size of a briefcase.

Most jamming devices simply plug into a vehicle's cigarette lighter to block all tracking signals.

"This results in the control center losing contact with the vehicle. The vehicle tracking system only shows the vehicle's last position before the signal was lost.

"Many different types of devices are susceptible to signal interference, including smartphones, remote controls and tracking devices.

"The signals these jamming devices emit on the GSM or GPS frequencies prevent tracking devices in the vehicle from receiving and transmitting messages, thereby blocking the positioning signal.

"The tracking device may be disabled without the driver even being aware".

Four Ways to Prevent Long Range or Signal Interference

1. Physically check that your vehicle is locked, even if you locked it with the remote control.


2. Keep valuables out of sight and, if possible, in the trunk of your vehicle.


3. Please put away your valuables before parking. Put them in the trunk before you start your journey rather than putting them in the suitcase when you arrive at your destination where someone may be watching.


4. If you are unable to lock your vehicle for any reason, move to another location.

Laser Interceptor functions as an Anti Laser type active Laser signal jammers, effectively obstructing police lasers with its beam emission feature. In contrast, radar detectors only notify you of speed measurement. This LIDAR-triggered Laser laser jammer emits a Jamming Beam upon LIDAR signal detection, ceasing when the signal disappears, and reactivating upon detection of another LIDAR Signal(s). The device comprises two sensors.

Every sensor is comprised of a laser detector and a laser transmitter. These sensors are placed on the front of the vehicle, and supplementary sensors can be acquired to secure the rear of the vehicle also.

Each time the device is powered on, it undergoes a self-diagnostic test and then proceeds to play a welcoming sound. The transceiver unit contains two integrated sensors that are capable of detecting laser beams. Upon detection, the sensor sends a signal to a high-speed microprocessor for evaluation, which subsequently relays corresponding signals to the LASER transmitter.

By synchronizing both sensors, the jamming effect is amplified. When a LIDAR device receives signals from a vehicle equipped with a Laser Interceptor, it becomes incapable of accurately determining the speed. This is due to the device receiving erroneous information about the current distance from the vehicle. As a result, the speed is not displayed, and the device issues an audio warning sound and a Voice Alert to notify the user about the type of LIDAR being utilized whenever a speed measurement is attempted.

In order to function efficiently under extreme temperature conditions, the device incorporates a built-in thermo regulation mechanism. Its housing is crafted from black plasticized aluminium and includes a front optical lens. Additionally, the device is both waterproof and highly durable, capable of withstanding various forms of mechanical damage.

Installed in a vehicle, a radar detector is a device designed to detect radar signals over a significant range. Its primary function is to provide immediate warnings to the driver/user regarding potential radar-based threats, including speed measuring devices like multanova or radar speed guns.

The primary purpose of radar detectors is to detect and protect against RADAR threats, ensuring efficient security. Nevertheless, they may not adequately warn you in a timely manner against LIDAR, a laser-based speed measuring device. LIDAR is gaining popularity due to its superior performance, stability, and advanced technology, surpassing outdated RADAR products such as RADAR multanova.

The exclusive means of ensuring sufficient defense against LIDAR lies in laser jamming systems. These systems possess the ability to both detect and impede laser speed guns, granting you the freedom to drive without any apprehensions about laser-based speed measurement.