Several customers at a supermarket near the entrance to Sant Antoni experienced the same unusual problem on Monday evening: their car remote controls suddenly stopped working.

The incidents occurred at around 20:00 on October 5, during one of the busiest shopping periods of the evening. Customers reported that they were unable to lock or unlock their vehicles using their remote controls, initially raising the possibility that their keys had simply run out of battery.

However, several people experienced the problem at the same time, and the remote controls began working again shortly afterwards.

The circumstances are consistent with possible interference from a frequency inhibitor, although the report does not establish that a device was definitely being operated at the supermarket or that a theft took place.

How Frequency Inhibitors Can Affect Cars

Frequency inhibitors can interfere with radio signals used by remote-control systems.

In a vehicle equipped with remote central locking, pressing the button normally sends a radio signal instructing the car to lock. If that signal is blocked, the vehicle may remain unlocked even though the driver believes the command has been transmitted.

The Guardia Civil has previously documented criminal groups using frequency inhibitors in vehicle-related robberies. In a 2025 investigation covering dozens of robberies at service areas, investigators said the offenders used an inhibitor to prevent vehicles from locking before taking belongings from inside.

This is different from a conventional mechanical break-in because the vehicle can appear to have been locked normally from the driver's perspective, while the locking command has actually been prevented from reaching the car.

A Similar Incident Was Reported in Ibiza Before

According to Noudiari, reports of this technique are not new on the island.

In April 2023, an audio message circulated on WhatsApp in which a resident described an alleged attempted theft involving an inhibitor in central Ibiza. That account was a resident's report and should not be treated as confirmation of a specific criminal operation unless supported by police or judicial information.

The recent supermarket incident similarly does not establish that a robbery occurred.

What it does demonstrate is why drivers should pay attention when a vehicle's remote locking system behaves unexpectedly.

What Drivers Should Do

The simplest precaution is also the most important: physically check that the car has actually locked.

If the remote does not appear to work, drivers should not simply walk away assuming the vehicle is secure.

Recommended precautions include:

• Check the door handle after pressing the remote to confirm that the vehicle is locked.

• If the remote does not respond, use the physical key where possible.

• Do not leave bags, luggage, electronics or other valuables visible inside the vehicle.

• If the remote suddenly stops working and then resumes later, be alert to the possibility of radio interference.

• If something appears suspicious in a car park, inform the police and the establishment's security or management.

• For vehicles with keyless systems, owners can consider appropriate signal-blocking storage for their keys.

The Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) also notes that vehicle remote systems can be affected by frequency inhibitors and explains that cars have mechanical methods for accessing the vehicle when the remote control does not function.

An Unusual Problem Worth Taking Seriously

For the customers involved on Monday evening, the problem lasted only temporarily. There is currently no verified information establishing that anyone was robbed at the supermarket during the incident.

Nevertheless, the simultaneous failure of several vehicle remotes is a useful reminder for drivers in Ibiza and elsewhere: never assume that a car is locked simply because the remote control has been pressed.

A quick check of the door handle can make the difference between discovering that a vehicle is safely locked and unknowingly leaving it accessible.