Wi-Fi jamming to knock out cameras suspected in nine Minnesota burglaries

[Perfect Jammer]

In Edina, a total of nine robberies are believed to have been committed using this technology, as per the police.

The authorities in Edina, Minnesota have reason to believe that a serial burglar has been using a Wi-Fi jammer to disable connected security cameras. By doing so, the burglar is able to successfully execute thefts and escape with the valuable belongings of their victims.The state of Minnesota is not typically associated with being at the forefront of technology, which is why it may not be surprising to hear that there have been reports of Wi-Fi jammers being employed in burglaries throughout the U.S. for a considerable amount of time. It is worth noting that even criminals are embracing technology, and more are beginning to understand its capabilities -- therefore, homeowners should consider implementing security measures.

Law enforcement officials in Edina have reason to suspect that nine burglaries that took place within the last six months may have been executed with the aid of Wi-Fi jammers to hinder the availability of any video evidence that could implicate the culprits. The suspected thieves are thought to have a particular method of operation:

• Residences can be spotted in upscale areas.
• Burglars keep a close eye on the residences.
• The criminals eschew confrontation, seemingly opting to wait until houses are devoid of occupants.
• Leveraging the opportunity presented by an uninhabited dwelling, the burglars will deploy Wi-Fi jamming equipment.
• Valuable designer items, including safes, jewelry, and other high-end products, are commonly stolen.

The source publication, KARE11, consulted a security expert who explained the functionality of jammers. Contrary to common perception, these devices do not block signals but rather induce confusion among wireless devices. The expert revealed that signal jammer achieve this by overloading wireless traffic, thereby preventing the transmission of legitimate data.

Jamming wireless security devices is a growing trend

Extensive scrutiny of news articles uncovers a wealth of evidence pointing towards the use of wifi jammer in burglaries. In January 2020, a post on the Ring community forum detailed an incident involving a wireless doorbell that effectively thwarted a porch thief through a Wi-Fi deauthentication attack. Furthermore, reports abound from 2021 to 2023, documenting cases where burglars employed Wi-Fi jamming technology. Notably, these reports indicate a progressive increase in the frequency of such incidents over time.

Ring is mentioned as one of the firms that helped popularize video doorbells to tackle various home security issues, but other wireless smart home security products from Blink (Amazon) and Nest (Google) could also be susceptible to wireless signal jamming.

Prior to concluding, we would like to provide some suggestions for individuals who may be questioning the efficiency of their home security systems with wireless components. Firstly, consider physically connecting certain devices that support wired connections and allow for local storage of recorded footage. Secondly, utilize smart home technology that can give the impression that someone is present at home. Moreover, your device may have the ability to send alerts in case of signal or connection disruptions, so it could be worthwhile to experiment with these settings.