In a further testament to the advancing technological skills of criminals, authorities in Minnesota have revealed that burglars have been resorting to Wi-Fi jammers to momentarily incapacitate the connected security systems of unsuspecting homeowners. It is estimated that this method has been employed in a total of nine burglaries occurring over the course of the last six months.

The police department in Edina, Minnesota, has confirmed that the recent spate of burglaries spanning the past six months is not a result of random victim selection. Instead, the criminals are strategically choosing affluent neighborhoods and monitoring homes for periods of vacancy to carry out their break-ins without encountering anyone.

What makes this case fascinating is the utilization of Wi-Fi bluetooth jammer by the culprits to disrupt the security systems of the houses, particularly surveillance cameras. Following this, they abscond with safes, jewelry, and other luxurious possessions.

According to cybersecurity expert Mark Lanterman, signal jammers do not actually block signals. Rather, they flood wireless networks, causing legitimate traffic to be unable to reach devices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) strictly prohibits the operation, marketing, or sale of any jamming equipment that interferes with authorized radio communications, as stated by federal law. This prohibition encompasses various communication services such as cellular networks, personal communication services, police radar, and global positioning systems. It is crucial to understand that there are no exemptions for using such equipment within business premises, classrooms, residences, or vehicles. Furthermore, local law enforcement agencies lack the authority to independently employ jamming equipment.

Nevertheless, one can still acquire Wi-Fi jammers through online channels outside the United States, with prices ranging from $40 to $1,000. Instances have been documented where these gadgets were utilized to evade connected home security systems, like Ring video doorbells, over the past few years.

There are various suggested strategies to mitigate the risks posed by Wi-Fi jammer burglaries. One such method involves utilizing a hardwired camera system positioned both indoors and outdoors, which directly connects to a local storage unit. It is also recommended to install security alarms and lighting fixtures that do not rely on wireless networks. Moreover, since these burglaries typically occur when houses are vacant, leaving lights or the television running can potentially deter potential intruders from targeting your home.

Karyn Wall has lived in Lemon Grove for the past 20 years, and to her knowledge, her home has never been targeted by criminals. However, she recently learned how vulnerable her home is to would-be burglars.

"My husband and I feel very secure, but I know we may need to do something about the house, the interior, the lighting, etc.," Wall said.

Shanah Clevenger is a crime prevention specialist with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department who runs the free Lemon Grove Home Security Consultation Program. She'll consider anything that can be done to bolster home security, no matter the budget.

"Some of my suggestions are quick and easy and don't cost a lot," Clevenger said. "I just suggest: do what you can, or do it incrementally until you feel your home is secure."

That security measure includes protection against a relatively unknown type of wifi jammer. NBC 7 Responds spoke to cybersecurity expert Jim Stickley about these devices, who said that even though they are illegal in the U.S., there are several websites where you can buy them and have them delivered to your door.

"I mean, you shouldn't panic," Stickley said. "It's real, but the number of criminals who actually use it is relatively small."

How do Wi-Fi jammers work?

Jammers disable Wi-Fi devices by overloading the Wi-Fi frequency, or any radio frequency, and large jammers have a fairly wide range of interference, Stickley said.

"It could take out a whole house, or even a couple of houses around me, and take out all the Wi-Fi," Stickley said.

Once the Wi-Fi is down, criminals can break in without the cameras capturing it.

How to disable a WiFi jammer?

Wired cameras won't be affected by signal jammer, of course. Remember: The memory chip will record video whether or not there's Wi-Fi. Plus, some security systems offer systems that send owners notifications when Wi-Fi is down.

"If you get a notification that the Wi-Fi can't communicate with the camera, you can say, 'OK, something might be wrong,' and then you can call a neighbor and say, 'Hey, can you go check it out for me?'" Stickley said.

Wall said she couldn't imagine coming home one day to find her home ransacked by strangers.

"That would be horrible," Wall said. "That would be horrible because you'd be worried if there was someone else in the house and wouldn't want to go in. That would be a very scary situation."

Wall hopes to continue living safely in Lemon Grove for another 20 years.

The sheriff's department said technology is important to keep your family and home safe, but it's just as important that you and your neighbors look out for each other. They can also help start a neighborhood watch program.

Wi-Fi blockers and jammers are a notable topic in news reports about burglars in 2024, but is your smart home security in jeopardy?

Wi-Fi blocking sounds dangerous, but it's unlikely to be a threat to your home

One of the big selling points of smart home security is that it can make your home safer and more convenient. But you may have seen reports in 2024 about burglars using new technology to block Wi-Fi signals, jamming valuable camera systems or video doorbell connections and rendering them useless. This news report discusses police warnings about break-ins using Wi-Fi jammers in Los Angeles and Glendale, and here's a scary-sounding story about jammer burglars hitting homes in Minneapolis.

If you're worried, you're like many other homeowners who worry that their devices -- especially Wi-Fi cameras and sensors -- won't alert them in the presence of mobile Wi-Fi blockers, catch the thief, or even call a monitoring station for help.

Wi-Fi jammers do exist, but they are unlikely to pose a threat to your home or any of your devices.

Let's summarize your reasons to stay calm:

• The above reports are general messages from police to their communities, with little evidence of Wi-Fi jammers being used and only wealthy neighborhoods being robbed. In some cases, local reports explicitly state that police are only saying thieves "might" have used jammers, not that they've caught anyone in the act of committing robberies. Some burglar arrests, like this one in Connecticut in 2023, do provide evidence of jammer devices, but this is one of the very few that has been confirmed.


• Smart home encryption helps prevent such attacks and can notify owners of problems immediately.


• Burglars may not have the time or resources to buy and learn new technology. They'll smash your windows or drill your door latches-blocking Wi-Fi isn't their plan.


• More likely, a suspected smart home security malfunction is the result of a dead wireless device battery or a failure of motion detection to activate due to a motion zone or detection sensitivity issue.


• According to a 2019 FBI report, burglaries account for only 16% of property crimes, with only about 60% of those involving residential thefts and only about half of burglaries involving any kind of forced entry. It's also worth noting that between 2010 and 2020, burglaries overall dropped by about 50%.

However, Wi-Fi jamming technology does exist, and despite FCC laws prohibiting the sale of such technology, thieves can still find and purchase jammers online.