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Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.

– Anton Chekhov

Vehicle remote jamming is on the rise, with incidents occurring on a daily basis, indiscriminate of where you park or what vehicle you drive. Failing to be aware and alert when making a quick stop at a petrol station convenience store, or when quickly dropping off or picking kids up from school / after school activities, can lead to unfortunate consequences.

The criminals who make use of remote jamming go out of their way to blend in and not draw attention to themselves. They often work in teams, with one making sure the driver is away from the vehicle for long enough whilst the other gets as many goods out of the vehicle as quickly as possible. They exploit your inattention to their advantage and very often, even if you park right outside an entrance, in full view of pedestrians, it is not a sufficient deterrent.

Remote jamming devices do not unlock your vehicle but rather prevent the locking action from taking place in the first place. The remote is not cloned; the radio frequency of the receiver is scrambled so that the desired action i.e. locking the vehicle does not occur. Due to the nature of these types of radio frequencies, generally the criminals will need to be in close proximity to the vehicle for the jamming to work however, some jamming devices will allow for criminals to do their work from a distance.

An unintended consequence of this type of crime may be that, depending on your individual policy, as there is no sign of forced entry in relation to the items stolen (i.e. laptops, handbags, keys etc.) your claim may be rejected by your insurance service provider. The responsibility is ultimately yours to ensure your vehicle is properly locked and any valuables stored therein, are properly secured.

What can you do to minimise your risk of being a victim of such a crime?:-

5 Principles you can apply

Be alert and aware when locking your vehicle (listen for the audible lock not just alarm being activated)
Physically check to ensure the vehicle is locked before walking away (try to open a door and the boot)
Do not leave valuables inside the vehicle in full view / in the open (put in the boot or take out with you)
Use the key to lock the vehicle rather than using the remote (if possible)
Report suspicious looking people to security (they may not be after your car, but could be after someone else’s)

At all times be mindful of your actions and your surroundings

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