Car remote jammers still on the prowl in province
CAR jamming is still being used by thieves and police have warned Eastern Cape residents to be extremely cautious when using their remote car locks.
When a driver beeps their remote lock, sharp-eyed criminals simultaneously push the button on a similar device, blocking the signal of the locking remote and leaving the car doors open for thieves to gain easy access.
But the battle against the jammers is hotting up as mall owners put in counter-jammers to stop the crooks.
The Daily Dispatch was a recent victim of this hoax, when a reporter had expensive camera equipment stolen from her vehicle parked in front of Click’s at the Beacon Bay Retail Park on Thursday at 5pm.
Beacon Bay Community Policing Association deputy patrol co-ordinator Anthony Verwey said that the CPA had also received reports of cases of car jamming at the Spargs SuperSPAR centre.
Nahoon SPAR, Gonubie SPAR and Vincent Park have all been hit in the past and have each stepped up security, managers said.
“We have strategically placed devices which interrupt the signal jamming around our parking lots and over the last few months we haven’t had any cases reportcareful ed,” said Vincent Park Shopping Mall manager Joseph Parsley.
The devices set off an alarm once they pick up the signal frequency of the jamming remote, alerting security staff.
Nahoon SPAR assistant floor manager Bradley Crous said both their Nahoon and Gonubie stores had put up similar devices, and while it had helped to deter criminals, catching perpetrators has proved to be difficult.
“The number of cases has decreased, but it’s definitely still happening. The last time we had a car jamming incident was last month. The thieves are opportunists, going from area to area, trying to get lucky,” said Crous.
Parsley said the perpetrators could easily be sitting in a car nearby, or drive away.
“People need to be very and get into the habit of not just walking away while pressing the remote button.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said car jamming was also happening in the East London CBD, but that they had seen a decrease lately.
She urged motorists to double check that their cars were locked before walking away.
Mthatha cluster police spokeswoman Captain Dineo Koena said the rate of car jamming in the Mthatha area had decreased drastically.
“I think one of the factors for this is the vigilance and swift response of police and cooperation of members of the public,” said Koena.
However, she said motorists should be vigilant and not leave valuables in the vehicle in view of passersby. –