Vanderburgh deputies discover signal jammer during search, linked to suspected burglary

EVANSVILLE, In. (WEHT)- Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered a sophisticated signal jammer during a search warrant, a first for the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Robinson says: “This device was capable of turning off Wi-Fi cameras, doorbells and security systems that use radio sensors. That would have turned everything off. And there's only one reason to own a device like this. And it is for bad deeds, for harmful use.

Authorities say there is no law against owning a signal jammer, but using it is a federal crime.

Sheriff Robinson says the next step is to talk with lawmakers. Robinson adds: “Curiously, Indiana does not have a law that directly addresses communications interference. I think this is an issue that probably should be addressed, and I will work with our state legislators to close this gap.

The sheriff's office says this all leads back to an alleged daytime burglary in the Cambridge Village area.

Two men allegedly targeted a residence using high-tech equipment.

Deputies say on Sunday a couple returned home to find two strange men inside.

Authorities say the two suspects fled the scene, escaping in a gray Jeep.

Officers were able to make an arrest because they were in the right place at the right time, thanks to a FLOCK camera that Cambridge Village purchased through the sheriff's office.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff's deputies, responding to the reported burglary, arrested Jaime Riveras, a Chilean national, on Highway 41.

Sheriff Robinson says Riveras claimed he did not stop in Evansville on his way to Florida from St. Louis.

Sheriff Noah Robinson said, “In addition to eyewitness testimony, to obtain a search warrant for everything in the vehicle, which revealed two cell phones inside the vehicle, which showed data points GPS that placed the suspect vehicle at Riveras' location inside the residence. who was robbed.

Riveras faces several charges, including interfering with the reporting of a crime for the alleged use of the signal jammer.

VCSO still considers this an active investigation, searching for Riveras' accomplice.