7mo ago

LAPD warns residents after spike in burglaries using Wi-Fi jammers that disable security cameras, smart doorbells

www.tomshardware.com LAPD warns residents after spike in burglaries using Wi-Fi jammers that disable security cameras, smart doorbells

Wilshire-area neighborhoods were told to be particularly vigilant.

The Los Angeles Police Department has warned residents to be wary of thieves using technology to break into homes undetected. High-tech burglars have apparently knocked out their victims' wireless cameras and alarms in the Los Angeles Wilshire-area neighborhoods before getting away with swag bags full of valuables. An LAPD social media post highlights the Wi-Fi jammer-supported burglaries and provides a helpful checklist of precautions residents can take.

Criminals can easily find the hardware for Wi-Fi jamming online. It can also be cheap, with prices starting from $40. However, jammers are illegal to use in the U.S.

We have previously reported on Wi-Fi jammer-assisted burglaries in Edina, Minnesota. Criminals deployed Wi-Fi jammer(s) to ensure homeowners weren't alerted of intrusions and that incriminating video evidence wasn't available to investigators.

212 comments

My August lock wifi goes down like 4 times a week. I feel so safe.
Wish it had an Ethernet option, not sure how that would work on a door though lol
- Wish it had an Ethernet option, not sure how that would work on a door though
  You'd just run a cable to the door from the hinge side, preferably inside the door through the hinge so it's not visible on the door itself. This is a very common solution for electronic locks in office buildings for example.