Remote jamming syndicate targets uMhlanga

DURBAN North SAPS has warned residents of a recent spike in car jamming incidents in the area. Even seemingly crowded parking lots and public areas are no deterrent for increasingly brazen criminals. More than 20 cases of theft out of motor vehicles have occurred since last Monday.

Fifteen cases of theft out of motor vehicles were reported from 24 November to 28 November, and seven of those were reported last Thursday alone. Police say, bar one, the rest of the cases were results of remote jamming. Spokesman for the Durban North Police Station Lt Raymond Deokaran added this sort of crime was preventable.

“We believe a remote jamming syndicate is operating in the area at the moment and with the festive season around the corner, this type of crime is likely to increase. The cases aren’t just limited to malls, it is outside restaurants, residential roads, hospitals and in one case last week outside a fertility clinic. In every single case, laptops were stolen,” Deokaran said.

“In the past we’ve noticed a trend where people, who open cases of this nature, say they arrived at their destination and realised their laptop or valuables were on the floor of the passenger seat. They then put it in the boot, lock their car and walk away.

“This syndicate is always on the lookout for such opportunities. Items such as laptops, iPads, cameras, GPS’, external hard drives, perfumes and cash are what the suspects most often look for. I urge residents to double-check they have locked their cars and not to leave valuables in their cars,” he said.