Thieves killed the Wi-Fi to evade security cameras and steal $25K in valuables from LA house. Why this home security blind spot could cost you big

All told, police believe the thieves nabbed at least $25,000 in jewelry and other valuables.

The key, however, is an added detail the husband provided: "The police said they (the suspects) most likely shut off the WiFi before coming in," meaning no security camera footage is available.

Jamming the WiFi cuts off home security cameras that rely on it to operate, and it's an increasingly common burglary tactic, leaving homeowners who think they've secured the premises with few leads to help recover stolen goods.

How thieves are jamming WiFi to bypass home security cameras

Despite national burglary statistics plummeting in the last decade — from a high of 116,392 cases in January 2016 to 32,519 in January 2026 (2) — police in some states, particularly California, have noted a trend of WiFi jamming home invasions in recent years (3).

While criminals have often found ways to infiltrate public WiFi networks to steal from victims, WiFi jammers do the opposite by interrupting the wireless frequency in a home to cut off devices that require it (4). That often includes wireless home cameras and other security systems, which cease working at the press of a jammer's button.

Sgt. Victor Jackson of the Glendale Police Department explained to KTLA that, as a result, "the alarm company's not triggered, [police aren't] triggered. And [thieves are] able to get into the home undetected" (5).

And IT expert Nigel Neilson told a local Houston news outlet that WiFi jammers are "relatively inexpensive" and, while the FCC outlawed them, "there are tons of websites online for people who like to cause chaos like this" (6).

Neilson estimated that thieves can build their own jammer in half an hour for less than $60, while others warn that they can be purchased outside of the U.S. for as little as $40 (7).

In multiple states, from California to Colorado (8), Arizona (9) and Minnesota (10), thieves often target affluent neighborhoods and wait until the coast is clear before jamming the WiFi and breaking in.

During a spate of recent burglaries in Los Angeles, police said that "jammers are a universal key and the hottest device today" (11).

Last year, in Long Island, New York, thieves jammed the cameras during the daytime to steal a man's jet ski from his driveway.

And in a terrifying example of the extended dangers of WiFi jamming, a New Jersey resident was home when thieves broke into his house in 2024 and couldn't call for help because the jammer also cut off his cellular signal. Thankfully, he escaped the house unscathed (12).

One expert went so far as to warn that sophisticated jamming tools can track your movements via your smartphone, allowing burglars access to your location (13).

Signs of WiFi jamming, meanwhile, are relatively common, or inconspicuous, like slower internet speeds and devices losing connectivity (14), meaning a homeowner might not realize it's a malicious attack until it's too late.

How to protect your home against WiFi jammers

Taking extra precautions like securing all doors and windows, keeping your property well-lit and ensuring all valuables are locked up are all effective home security tips.

Similarly, the best protection against WiFi jammers is preparation.

International tech security company Reolink recommends using WPA3 encryption for your WiFi networks and a 5GHz wireless band (which is harder for jammers to intercept), along with placing your router in the middle of your home and buying dual-band WiFi cameras — which can switch from 2.4 GHz to 5GHz frequency in the event of an attack — among other options (15).