An electronic irritation device includes a plurality of electronic irritation signal modules. Each of the modules has at least one emitter for emitting optical or acoustic irritation signals, and additionally a connection device for coupling the plurality of irritation signal modules to one another and an unlocking device for automatically unlocking the connection device in order to decouple the plurality of irritation signal modules from one another and thereby distribute them spatially. Distributing a plurality of irritation signal modules makes it possible to increase the probability of an irritation effect upon deployment of a single irritation device.