INDIANAPOLIS — Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson testified at the state Capitol Tuesday about a local crime that may need new legislation.

In June, two people allegedly used a signal jammer to burglarize a home in northern Vanderburgh County.

"This device is designed to interfere with Wi-Fi and cellular signals, and it is illegal under federal law to use it," Robinson told reporters at the time. "Once activated, cameras and other security equipment that rely on Wi-Fi or cellular signals cease to function."

Evansville Republican State Rep. Wendy McNamara said the crime made her realize they needed to address the problem.

She chaired Tuesday's Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law and invited Robinson to speak at the meeting. McNamara said Indiana does not have a law regarding intentional interference with communications, even though it is a federal crime to use the technology.

During his testimony, Robinson said he had never really thought about the impact signal jammers could have on law enforcement until someone found the device in a car in Vanderburgh County.

These devices give thieves a real advantage when they commit burglary

Gear like Ring doorbells, alarm sensors and cellular backups that alert police to intrusions can all be rendered ineffective by jammers, he said.

After discovering the jammers in June, Robinson said, he went back to his office and sat down to think about the possibilities. He then sent a draft law to McNamara for her consideration.

“We’re frustrated because we can charge these people with burglary,” he said, “but there’s really no statute in place, including the state’s anti-terrorism statute, that addresses these signal jammers in any way.”

Robinson asked the committee to consider legislation in Indiana that would make it a crime to import jamming devices. He recommended stiff penalties for such devices that would be based on how they’re used.

“These are illegal devices, but they’re coming to us all the time,” he said. “I can go online and buy one right now. They’re not hard to buy.”

McNamara said in a news release that she’s concerned about the threat jammers pose to public safety. "These jamming devices can mean victims can't call 911 for help or access their security cameras. We want to close any loopholes in state law to ensure criminals are held accountable," she said. "That's why I will continue to work with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement to find a legislative solution to bring forward in the upcoming legislative session."

As a parent, are you struggling to manage your child's screen time?

A resident could face six months in jail for unknowingly using a signal wifi jammer to disrupt phone and mobile internet service in his neighborhood.

But surprisingly, his actions were not motivated by malice. He simply wanted to stop his teenage children from using their mobile devices to surf the internet after bedtime. Since the lockdown due to Covid-19 was implemented. After consulting internet forums, the father decided that a jammer was the best solution to stop his children's excessive screen use. His children were indeed addicted to social networks and other apps, and the aim was to prevent his children from surfing the internet on their smartphones before bedtime.