ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

A frightening new tool in the arsenal of car thieves has surfaced in Jamaica, raising major concerns among investigators and vehicle security experts. The device, believed to block or jam GPS signals, was discovered recently during a probe into a stolen vehicle and is suspected to be behind the vanishing act of cars stolen without a trace.

"It's not a common device, but we have reason to believe it is intentionally used to delay or stop the transmission of location data," a player in the vehicle-tracking subsector told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The device was found plugged into the vehicle's auxiliary power outlet, commonly called the cigarette lighter port. According to the source, the moment the device was connected, the car's tracking ability was compromised.

"We've observed interference with the vehicle's tracking ability after the device was plugged in," the source confirmed.

The discovery adds another troubling layer to Jamaica's vehicle theft crisis. Between January 1 and March 31, a staggering 474 vehicles were reported stolen, but only 76 were recovered, according to data from the Stolen Motor Vehicle Unit (SMVU).

Detective Marcel Bedward, head of the SMVU, said criminals are becoming more tech-savvy in their methods, although traditional tactics like hot-wiring and removing trackers are still widely used.

"The devices that the criminals use are ever so changing," Bedward said.

He added that a more sophisticated tactic now being used involves 'cloning' -- giving a stolen vehicle the identity of a legally owned one that was written off after a crash. This makes detection and recovery significantly harder.

"They steal a vehicle in premium shape, never in an accident, and put your information on it," Bedward explained. "It makes for harder detection from a police standpoint."

Even more alarming is how legitimate auto diagnostic and programming tools -- readily available on websites like Amazon and eBay -- are being weaponised. Criminals are using them to duplicate keys and bypass security systems.

"These devices, in their natural form, help more than hurt. The misuse is what we have a problem with," Bedward said.

Because of this, he strongly advises vehicle owners to install layered security systems, including immobilisers, hidden kill switches, and discreet trackers.

Bedward also warned about the dangers of leaving key fobs near windows or doors. Some tech-savvy thieves are using signal boosters to pick up and clone the unlock signal from keyless-entry vehicles, especially those with push-to-start features.

Despite the frightening capabilities of these new tools, Bedward said the high-tech approach to car theft isn't yet widespread.

"We are not seeing a large-scale shift to technology," he explained.

Still, the implications are serious. According to Bedward, every stolen vehicle contributes to wider criminal activity, including the purchase of illegal firearms.

"The issue for us isn't just the theft, it's the revenue being placed in the hands of criminals to buy guns and fund illegal networks," he said. "If we don't take it seriously, the problem will grow in the back-end."