Rosebank police spokesperson Sergeant Bongi Mbetshe said a motorist had parked their vehicle in a parking lot at The Zone @ Rosebank mall.
Upon return the motorist allegedly discovered that someone had stolen a laptop from their vehicle. Police believed it was a remote jamming incident and Mbetshe said they were waiting video footage to determine the facts.
Remote jamming is a common phenomenon throughout the country. Thieves monitor motorists in parking lots and as a motorist presses the lock button on their remote control to lock their car, the thieves press their own remotes which operate on the same frequency. The signal gets jammed as a result which prevents the car from being locked.
Despite wide media coverage on the issue, it is on the rise. Many insurance companies don’t cover theft out of a motor vehicle if there are no visible signs of forced entry, which is the case with remote jammers.
Mbetshe advised motorists to physically ensure that their vehicles were properly locked before leaving it. “You must test the door by trying to open it after you’ve locked it,” he said.
