Lock jamming: the car you thought you locked
Most at risk: Any car locked with a remote fob, often in busy car parks and retail sites.
What lock signal jamming is
A remote fob sends a short radio message telling the car to lock. Jamming floods that frequency with noise so the message never arrives, and the owner walks away from a car that is still open.
It is mostly linked to theft from vehicles, such as bags, tools and sat-navs, but an open car also gives a thief time inside to try other methods. The government has also consulted on banning possession of the jammers used by car thieves.
How owners usually notice: No flash of the indicators, no mirror fold or locking sound, or a fob that seems to work only at very close range.
Stop lock signal jamming with dual layer protection
Layer one: an engine that will not start
If a jammed car is entered, an aftermarket immobiliser stops the incident turning into a full theft, because getting inside does not supply the immobiliser's code. Read more.
Layer two: alerts on movement
A tracker with tilt and movement alerts tells you when the car is disturbed in a car park, so you can return or call police while there is still time. Read more.
Talk to an installer about both layers.
Everyday habits that help
- Watch for the indicator flash and check a door handle before leaving.
- Never leave valuables, keys or documents on view.
- If the fob stops working in one spot, move and lock again somewhere else.
Latest UK reports
No fresh lock signal jamming stories from trusted UK outlets right now. This list refreshes itself daily from police and press feeds.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: possession of radio frequency jammers call for evidence
- Metropolitan Police: prevent theft from a vehicle