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TL;DR: Wireless cameras can provide a buffer of protection for security-conscious people needing a capable home surveillance system. A gang of "hi-tech" burglars has recently started using radio jammers to target wireless security cameras in Los Angeles, proving the popular devices aren not foolproof.
Police in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles have been dealing with a band of "hi-tech" thieves equipped with Wi-Fi jammers, which they use to disable wireless cameras outside residential homes before breaking in. The LAPD even released a community alert via X, warning Wilshire residents and providing advice on properly setting up their home surveillance.
Wireless jammers work by disrupting nearby radio communications, and they are understandably illegal in the United States and other parts of the world. However, they are relatively easy to build with pre-assembled components or purchase on and off the internet.
Wilshire area has been subjected to various residential burglaries, involving 3-4 suspects using Wi-Fi jammers as they enter victims' residences. The Los Angeles Police Department is seeking your help to deter such burglaries. #lapd #lapdwilshire @LAPDRodriguez pic.twitter.com/XXYMnb0ImJ
– LAPD Wilshire (@LAPDWilshire) March 4, 2024
The alert mentions that three or four suspects have been using Wi-Fi jammers to disable the network capabilities of wireless cameras in recent months. According to ABC7, after defeating internet-powered alarms and cameras, the thieves enter a house via second-story balconies and look for jewelry, purses, money, and other valuables. The burglars are highly organized, with a getaway driver waiting and watching for random patrols or other possible witnesses.
The LAPD offered helpful advice to avoid falling victim to hi-tech burglary. For example, law enforcement recommends beefing security to electrical circuit boxes to deter tampering with the alarm system. Residents should avoid public social media posts showing vacation pics or other information that would allow a burglar to know they are not at home. Asking a trusted neighbor to pick up mail and check the house is also a relatively good idea.
Additional security measures include making openings harder to access and placing Apple AirTags (or other trackers) on valuable items to help locate them if stolen. However, law enforcement officials say that opting for a hard-wired alarm system instead of a wireless one is the best bet to avoid these high-tech break-ins.