Boksburg police warn motorists to be very cautious as thieves are using jamming devices to break into people’s vehicles and help themselves to the motorists’ valuable items.
The Boksburg SAPS experienced a spike in car-jamming incidents a few years ago, but this form of crime later became relatively rare. However, police in the area said they have noted that over the last few months, remote jamming has become an increasingly prevalent form of crime in shopping malls and parking lots in different parts of the precinct.
Boksburg SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Ntsako Ledwaba said their detectives are investigating several cases of theft from motor vehicles and it’s believed that the criminals used jamming devices to block motorist’s central car locking systems.
In one of the latest five cases, two cases reported in the Boksburg CBD and three others reported at the Sunward Park Lifestyle Centre, the owners used their car remotes to lock their vehicles and walked away, unbeknown to them that the signal between the remote and the car locking systems had been jammed.
They only discovered when they returned to their vehicles that thieves had entered their vehicles and stole valuable goods, leaving no visible traces of forced entry.
Motorists are advised to take all the necessary precautions before they leave their vehicles unattended.
“Most importantly, do not assume that your vehicle is locked. Before you walk away from your car, make sure the doors are properly locked. We receive a lot of complaints from people who apparently didn’t take measures to ensure that their cars were properly locked,” said Ledwaba.
Ledwaba also reminded motorists that some of the insurers do not provide cover for this form of crime, as it is regarded as an act of negligence on the part of the driver.
To reduce the risk of becoming another statistic of crime where a remote jammer is used on your vehicle, police shared the following tips.
• Double-check: When you park or leave your vehicle unattended, especially in shopping centres or at a quick stop in a public area such as outside of a shop or house, you must make sure that the doors to your vehicle are properly locked, by physically testing them.
• Hide valuable goods: Ensure that your valuable goods are kept out of plain sight, as in most cases, car jammers target vehicles for the goods inside them, rather than for the vehicle itself.
Have you recently fallen victim to remote-jamming? Please share your story by emailing your experience to faniem@caxton.co.za
Also Read: Two suspected car jammers arrested, stolen goods recovered
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