Industry Briefing: Why Jamming Is Exploding in 2026 — And What Insurers and Tracking Companies Can Do About It

The Industry Brief – March 2026

South Africa's vehicle theft crisis is reaching new heights.

While trackers have long been the frontline defence, criminals have adapted. The weapon of choice? GPS and cellular jammers.

Once rare and expensive, jammers are now cheap, portable, and devastatingly effective. In 2026, they’re not just a threat — they’re the norm. And insurers, tracking companies, and vehicle owners are all paying the price.

The Rise of Jamming: By the Numbers

Incidents involving signal jamming have increased significantly in recent years. In Gauteng, recovery teams report that a large portion of tracked vehicles go silent shortly after theft. Business-owned vehicles are particularly hard hit.

A jammer costs as little as R500 on the black market. It plugs into a cigarette lighter and blocks signals, leaving trackers blind at the worst possible moment.

Why Current Trackers Fail

Most trackers rely on a single communication path. When that path is jammed, the device goes dark. The monitoring centre sees “no signal” and the vehicle disappears — often to a chop shop before anyone realises.

This creates a frustrating reality for tracking companies and a growing claims bill for insurers.

A Complementary Solution

At Norovari, we built Sentinel to close this exact gap. It’s an ultra-thin device that hides where traditional trackers can’t. It works alongside existing systems and activates precisely when they go silent.

For tracking companies, Sentinel means fewer black holes and faster recoveries.

For insurers, it means better data, fewer unrecoverable claims, and stronger risk profiling.

What You Can Do Now

The rise of jamming isn’t slowing down. Thieves are becoming more sophisticated, and trackers that worked five years ago are no longer enough.

Tracking companies: Audit your devices — do they have any backup when primary signals are lost?

Insurers: Ask your recovery partners how they handle jamming. Look for solutions that provide true redundancy.

At Norovari, we’re not here to compete with tracking companies — we’re here to make them better. Sentinel closes the jamming gap and gives everyone the edge they need when it matters most.

Let’s Talk

If you’re a tracking company or insurer looking to reduce losses from jammed vehicles, we’d love to hear from you.

The Industry Brief is published monthly by Norovari.