Do you know that intruders can jam your alarm?
JOBURG – Local security companies warn of intruders who can jam residential home alarms.
Jamming can affect different components and types of alarm systems in different ways.
The managing director of Beagle Watch Dave Casey explained that alarm systems consist of various components, all working together to detect intruders and provide a wide range of information to control rooms.
“Essentially there are two types of alarm systems – wired systems, where each of the detection devices is linked to the control panel using cables and wireless systems – in which the detection devices are linked to the control panel wirelessly,” he said.
“More modern and sophisticated wireless systems have jamming detection as a feature which enables the alarm-control panel to detect jamming attempts,” he explained.
Although the system may have this capability, but is not configured to report the jamming to the control room, residents are exposed to a preventable risk.
Communication technology is the most important element of an alarm system which enables the alarm to control panel to communicate with the control room and is achieved using a variety of devices, such as telephone and a wireless transmission device called radio transmitters.
SRT Security Services Pty Ltd director Marius van der Walt said the jammer is a device that blocks any signals from any home alarm system to the security company control room.
He said the jamming device could create multiple false alarms and sabotage the security company’s reaction time.
“We at SRT Security have never encountered such a device,” explained Van der Walt.
He said that most alarm systems must comply with strict testing standards to counter such threats.
“These jamming devices are mostly available to Government agencies – like the military and intelligence organisations. Residents won’t be able to see if the alarm system is jammed,” he said.
To avoid falling victim to jamming, residents should ensure the following:
•If a wireless alarm system does not have jamming detection, they should consider upgrading to a system that does have this type of detection.
•If a wireless alarm system has wireless jamming ensure that the jamming detection feature is enabled and is programmed to report this event to the control room.
Details: Beagle Watch, 011 678 1972; SRT Security, 011 053 6281.
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