A man sought in relation to multiple home invasions in Queens, New York, was caught on a home security camera while trying to use a Wi-Fi jammer to obstruct the signal of a Wi-Fi-enabled security camera. The signal, however, was reestablished, allowing the camera to document his actions.
The suspect reportedly entered homes during the day, taking valuable items such as cash, jewelry, and luxury possessions, while ransacking the interiors. It was ambiguous whether the police were investigating a single suspect or multiple individuals who might be working in collaboration.
As reported by ABC 7 NY, it appears that the homeowners are often not present at the time the suspect arrives, which tends to happen just as they are leaving. Since July 24, New York police have confirmed that at least five homes have experienced break-ins under comparable circumstances.
In a recent incident, the residence of Imran Ahmed in Queens Village was breached during a break-in.
The security camera footage, which is Wi-Fi-enabled, was unable to be disrupted during parts of a home invasion. The video depicted a troubling sight of a man, concealed by various pieces of fabric, slithering across the floor. He was seen maneuvering a backpack and a black box, thought to be a Wi-Fi signal jammers. Nevertheless, his attempt to disable the camera was unsuccessful, as it continued to transmit signals and recorded his actions while he was in the residence.
Ahmed indicated that they were alerted at about 2:30 regarding the disruption of their Wi-Fi service. He noted that initially, he "didn't pay it much attention."
Within the video, a man is seen moving up the stairs, and when he descends, he expresses a sound akin to, "Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony."
Ahmed indicated that they were located only two blocks from the police precinct. He noted that having an event of this nature transpire is very unsettling.
The police are currently investigating a residence where $30,000 in jewelry was taken, along with a Louis Vuitton handbag worth $8,000.