Morgan Hill Prowler Uses Wi-Fi Jammer in Sophisticated Home Security Attack
This past September, a disturbing incident in Morgan Hill, California, highlighted a growing concern for homeowners: criminals using technology to disable security systems before attempting break-ins.
The September 2025 Incident
On September 23, 2025, a woman living in a quiet neighborhood off Saffron Drive reported a chilling encounter with a prowler who appeared to use sophisticated tactics to bypass her home security. Around 8 a.m., the suspect knocked on her front door before attempting to enter her backyard through a side gate. This incident was particularly alarming because her home surveillance cameras went offline during the incident—though fortunately, they continued recording despite the interference (source: ABC7 News and KRON4).
The Technology Behind the Attack
Detective Sergeant Sean Bayard of the Morgan Hill Police Department explained the technical aspects of the attack: “Unfortunately, some of those jammers operate on the same signal as Wi-Fi signals, and that’s where the jamming takes place, as that jammer approaches the Wi-Fi signal it will cause interruptions to the cameras” (source: ABC7 News).
Wi-Fi jammers can disrupt wireless communications by overwhelming the frequency bands that Wi-Fi networks use. While these devices have legitimate uses in specific security and testing applications, criminals increasingly use them to disable home security systems that rely on wireless connectivity.
Two Days of Stalking
The situation escalated over the following days as investigators revealed the suspects had been stalking the victim for two full days before their arrest. The victim noticed she was being followed, and in the morning following the initial prowling incident, she reported that a white Chevrolet sedan had been parked outside her home. The victim subsequently followed her as she drove her children to school. Showing remarkable awareness, she noticed the vehicle making every turn she made (source: KRON4).
“She did the right thing by immediately calling 911; our dispatchers right away told her to start driving towards the police department and dispatching a patrol officer,” Sergeant Bayard noted (source: ABC7 News).
Arrests Made
Police successfully pulled over the sedan and detained both a woman and a man inside. The man was identified as the same suspect captured in the surveillance footage from the September 23rd prowling incident. Both individuals were arrested and booked on multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, stalking, prowling, vandalism, and providing a false name (source: KRON4).
Community Response and Expert Recommendations
The September incident has resonated with residents. Neighbor Caitlyn Amaral praised the victim’s vigilance: “You never want to assume like someone is following you, you never want to assume that it’s something bad, so sometimes, like you never know – and like that’s brave of her to assume the worst… because you don’t know” (source: ABC7 News).
Another neighbor, Frankie Luna, emphasized the importance of home surveillance systems: “Everyone needs to have it, it’s just good for proof – it’s like having a dashcam on your car, it’s just good evidence to have for everyone” (source: ABC7 News).
Protecting Your Home Security System
In response to this emerging threat, Sergeant Bayard offers a crucial recommendation: homeowners should consider getting hard-wired surveillance cameras rather than relying solely on Wi-Fi-dependent systems. Hard-wired cameras cannot be disabled by Wi-Fi jammers, providing more reliable security coverage.
Additional security measures homeowners can consider include:
- Hybrid systems: Combining both wired and wireless cameras
- Cellular backup: Security systems that can switch to cellular networks if Wi-Fi is compromised
- Multiple recording locations: Systems that store footage both locally and in the cloud
- Motion-activated alerts: Systems that send immediate notifications to your phone
Ongoing Investigation
Detectives continued investigating whether this was a random crime or if the suspects had been targeting the victim specifically, possibly following her from work. The case highlighted the sophisticated methods criminals now employ to circumvent modern home security systems.
This September 2025 incident is a stark reminder that, as home security technology advances, so do criminals’ methods to circumvent these systems. Homeowners must stay informed about emerging threats and consider multi-layered security approaches to effectively protect their families and property.
The quick thinking of the Morgan Hill victim and the rapid response of local police demonstrate the importance of community awareness and prompt reporting of suspicious activities—even when technology designed to protect us is turned against us.
