Vanderburgh County Sheriff Testifies in Support of ‘Signal Jammer’ Bill

INDIANAPOLIS — Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson testified Tuesday at the State Capitol, linking a local crime spree to the potential need for new legislation.

In June, a signal-jamming device allegedly helped two people break into a home in northern Vanderburgh County.

“This device is specifically designed to disrupt Wi-Fi and cellular signals and is illegal under federal law to use,” Robinson told reporters at the time. “Once activated, cameras and other security devices that rely on Wi-Fi or cellular signals cease to function.”

According to state Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, the crime made her realize they needed to address the issue.

She chaired Tuesday’s meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code, where she invited Robinson to speak. McNamara said that while using the technology is a federal crime, Indiana has no law on the books regarding intentionally disrupting communications.

In his testimony, Robinson said he never really thought about the impact the signal jammer would have on law enforcement until he found the device in a car in Vanderburgh County.

“One of these devices gives burglars a real advantage when committing a break-in,” he said.

Devices such as the Ring doorbell, alarm sensors and the cellphone that notifies police about a break-in could be rendered useless by the jammer, he said.

Robinson said that when he returned to the office after the jammer discovery in June, he sat down and mulled over the options. Then he sent the bill to McNamara for consideration.

“We were frustrated by the fact that we could charge these individuals with hacking,” he said, “but there was actually no statute on the books, including state terrorism statutes, that in any way addressed the spectrum of these signal jammers.”

Robinson asked the commission to consider an Indiana law that would criminalize importing one of the jamming devices. His recommendation was stiff penalties, increasing depending on how the device was used.

“They’re illegal devices, but these devices come in here regularly,” he said. “I can go online and buy one. They’re not hard to come by.”

In a press release, McNamara said she is concerned about the threat jammers pose to public safety. “These jamming devices can prevent a victim from calling 911 for help or accessing security cameras. We want to close any loopholes in state law to ensure that criminals are held accountable,” she said. “That is why I will continue to work with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies to find legislative solutions to propose during the upcoming legislative session.”

McNamara plans to develop legislation on the topic during the 2025 session, which begins in January.