Car Remote Jamming, Insurance and you
In this instance, prevention of the particular crime is the best. Your insurance company will not pay out if you become a victim of car remote jamming. Their excuse will be that there was no forced entry.
Car remote jamming is becoming a common occurrence. Authorities and the public have known about this problem for quite a few years now.
Out of the 40 weekly cases of theft from motor vehicles in Sandton, 85% of them are because of car remote jamming.
Car remote Jamming is on the increase – How it works
Remote jammers prevent your vehicle from locking by using a household remote, (the same as you use for your garage or gate), which operates on the same frequency as your car-locking remote.
The remote blocks the signal, so overriding your car’s remote, and in so doing, preventing it from locking.
As the remote jammers watch you leave your car, at the same time as you press ‘lock’ on your remote, they press the remote on their device, blocking the signal, so your car doesn’t lock.
Even items in your boot are not safe, as if the suspects can get into your car, they can open the boot easily from the inside. Another point worth noting – when you lock the car with your remote, the boot locks too. If the signal has jammed your locking mechanism, all the doors, and the boot will remain unlocked.
People are distracted when they get out of their cars, often talking on their cell-phones. Jammers love distraction and at this time you are completely unaware of the fact that your vehicle never actually locked.
How do you Prevent this Happening
- When you park, be aware of the people around you, the parking area itself, and any suspicious looking people watching you.
- Make sure you see and hear the locking mechanism on your car when you press the remote.
- Physically test the doors yourself.
- If you have a laptop or other electronic devices that you don’t want to leave behind on the seats, don’t lock them in the boot in full view of watching remote jammers as it will make them even more eager to break into your car.
- If you do have to leave any electronic equipment in the boot, make sure you have done a manual lock check.
- Make sure that the parking area is well-lit with plenty of people about, and security personnel present.
Besides shopping malls, schools are another common place where car remote jamming is increasingly occurring. Parents leave valuables in the car when they take a few minutes to walk their children to their classes. Their cars become a quick and easy target for successful car remote jamming.
Insurance companies have been issuing warnings to clients, informing them that they won’t be paying out an insurance claim. You’ll have to show proof of the remote jamming and subsequent theft. Yes, video evidence can help with your claim, but what if there is no video surveillance.
People are taking Action their Way
With insurance companies not paying out for jamming thefts, people are breaking the law themselves. They are now deliberately breaking windows or locks, enabling them to get past this obstacle to their claim, and making it appear to be a forced entry.
Even if the insurance policy does pay out, expect a hefty excess attached to your claim.
Professional criminal gangs use jamming, and while the police are doing precious little about it, look at anti-jamming devices as an option and be overly vigilant.
Next step: sign up for car insurance now. Te get a quote please complete and then submit the form on this page
All info was correct at time of publishing October 11, 2018