Los Angeles Police Department warning home owners to hard-wire home security systems as organized theft rings quickly defeat wireless security with jammers

The Los Angeles Police Department is warning homeowners to hard-wire their home security systems to counter the growing threat from thieves who are using inexpensive Wi-Fi jammers to easily disable wireless security systems before entering homes.

Decades ago, home security systems were installed using physical cables to connect cameras to recorders to power. Disabling these systems required cutting the power (assuming there was no battery backup supply) and the camera cables. Many modern security devices like Arlo and Ring use a wireless data connection, and some do not need a power connection because of solar panel power. Like any radio signal, Wi-Fi can be disrupted by producing a strong jamming signal nearby, thereby disconnecting wireless devices from hubs and internet.

Illegal, pocket Wi-Fi jammers now sell for under $10, and thieves are now frequently utilizing them across America and in Los Angeles to knock out wireless home security systems before breaking in. Breaking into homes has become so easy, South American organized crime groups are crossing into America to target homes in all states, then returning with stolen cash and goods. The FBI estimates 1.1 million burglaries occurred in 2019 with a total loss of $3 billion.

To counter this vulnerability, security organizations including the LAPD and Kaspersky are recommending to home owners to hard-wire their security systems. This means using physical power and internet cables from the cameras and sensors to the hubs to the internet. Security systems using Power over Ethernet (PoE) need only one cable per camera (like this at Amazon). Additionally, battery backups will keep security systems running through power outages (like this at Amazon).

Readers can learn about various ways to increase home security in this document. Home defense should be planned in-depth to include security systems to record thieves for identification, and deadbolts and window security films to slow break-ins, and defensive weapons to stop thieves.