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| Dozens of drivers in Lowestoft 'unable to lock cars' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| About 50 drivers have reported being unable to remotely lock their cars, possibly due to someone using a signal jammer in part of Suffolk. | About 50 drivers have reported being unable to remotely lock their cars, possibly due to someone using a signal jammer in part of Suffolk. |
| Police say the majority of issues were reported on Tuesday in the centre of Lowestoft, including around Whapload Road and Battery Green Road. | Police say the majority of issues were reported on Tuesday in the centre of Lowestoft, including around Whapload Road and Battery Green Road. |
| Devices can be bought which block signals for remote central locking, leaving a vehicle unlocked. | Devices can be bought which block signals for remote central locking, leaving a vehicle unlocked. |
| Suffolk Police said the source of the problem "had not yet been identified". | Suffolk Police said the source of the problem "had not yet been identified". |
| A spokesman said: "Owners of various makes of vehicle have reported experiencing problems, which include either being unable to lock their vehicles remotely and secure vehicles becoming unlocked." | A spokesman said: "Owners of various makes of vehicle have reported experiencing problems, which include either being unable to lock their vehicles remotely and secure vehicles becoming unlocked." |
| The force advised people to manually lock their vehicles. | The force advised people to manually lock their vehicles. |
| Michael Hollidge, who works nearby, said he regularly checked on his parked car since experiencing the problem. | |
| "It's locking one minute, then it's not the next," he said. | |
| "I try it with my key and the key's not working. | |
| "I don't know what it is." | |
| Driver Duncan Cole said he feared his insurance would not be valid if his car was unlocked at the pay and display car park, and so decided to return home. | |
| BBC reporter's brush with police | |
| BBC reporter Kim Riley visited a car park in Whapload Road earlier on Wednesday and said he was "rather sceptical" that there was any truth to the reports. | BBC reporter Kim Riley visited a car park in Whapload Road earlier on Wednesday and said he was "rather sceptical" that there was any truth to the reports. |
| "Then something rather strange started happening," he said. "The key was still in the ignition and suddenly the car started to lock itself, and a few seconds later the alarm triggered. | "Then something rather strange started happening," he said. "The key was still in the ignition and suddenly the car started to lock itself, and a few seconds later the alarm triggered. |
| "There is something in this. | |
| "Police are taking a keen interest, and indeed officers came over to speak to us after a member of the public reported someone looking suspicious, sitting in a car, tapping away on a laptop. | |
| "Fortunately I was able to do some smooth talking and satisfy them that it was only cameraman Shaun Whitmore, busy editing my report for tonight's BBC Look East." |