PHOENIX — It's something you would expect to see in a spy movie, but Phoenix police claim they have been used by burglars to get into high-end Valley homes: Cell phone and Wi-Fi jamming devices.
According to recent arrest documents, suspects connected to a string of burglaries in the Phoenix-Metro area had a device that is used to prevent people from making phone calls and gaining access to their security cameras.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Una presunta organización internacional criminal utiliza sofisticados bloqueadores de Wi-Fi para poder irrumpir en casas del valle
It was located when Phoenix Police arrested three suspects believed to be connected to South American Theft Groups.
According to Phoenix police, multiple suspects were spotted by surveillance officers at around 7:30 p.m. in a Camelback Mountain neighborhood near 44th Street and Camelback Road.
Officers saw the suspects go up to a home and engaged in what appeared to be a break-in attempt of the residence, police said.
The suspects then left the home and got into a waiting minivan, but the vehicle was blocked from leaving by police.
The arrest document claimed the driver crashed into the police vehicle at a high rate of speed. At that point, police said four people got out of the vehicle and ran away. Police set up a perimeter in the area and were able to find and arrest three of the suspects. The fourth suspect was not located.
Police said all three were carrying fraudulent identification. Additionally, they were in the United States on overstayed visas.
Police also found "burglary tools" the suspects threw out while they were running from police. One of those tools was the jamming device.
Former ATF Special Agent and current faculty associate at Arizona State University Bernard Zapor said that the devices are highly sophisticated equipment.
“It actually could be something that captures your cell phone transmission, and shows your location while you're moving,” Zapor said.
How these suspects obtained this device is unclear, but Zapor said it's akin to what law enforcement and intelligence agencies use for investigations.
These break-ins have become more common in high-end neighborhoods. Phoenix Police said there have been about 111 of these burglaries throughout the Valley since last February.
The suspects target affluent homes and have reportedly stolen about $3 million worth of jewelry, cash, luxury purses and more.
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