GPS theft on the rise

 
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I'D like the idea, thanks

Thanks for the info, after loosing my first gps on a trip to Canada (Niagara Falls to be exact) I got my second GPS and I want to protected as much as I can, I'll wait a little longer to see how the performance and the community reacts to this anti-theft software, but I wish that Garmin would do anything better to recover a stolen GPS (like the software GADGET TRACK announced on the link)I'm not advertising any software, I'm just tired of giving away something that I earn with my hard working money to a looser crack-head out there evil .

To all the POI Factory community... Where your GPS got stolen???

Mine in St Catherines, ON. Canada July 2008 (Magellan Roadmate 360)

stolen gps

One answer to avoid stolen gps units is to take it with you whenever you leave your car. The old reminder also is do not leave the support bracket in view or leave the teltale suction ring mark on your windshield. Be sure you use the beanbag mount.

gusb

--
augie billitier I2,c330,660

Hello gusb

I know that part, believe me, I learn the hard way, but now is to late all that I can do is "prevention"

Latest theft

One of my coworkers had her car window broken and lost her GPS, purse and laptop last Friday. Besides her wallet with ID's and credit cards, she also had a camera in the purse. Cradle was on the windshield but the GPS was put away in the console. She was just stopping at a customer's office to drop off some paperwork and expected to only be away from the car for five minutes. That's all it takes.

The crime was even recorded on the building's security tape. Two guys cruised the parking lot and did a smash & grab on her car presumably because they could see the cradle as they drove by. The whole crime took under 30 seconds. Sadly, the tape is of such poor quality that it's useless for identification purposes.

She's probably out about $2,000 altogether. She swears that she was only out of the car for five minutes or less.

Motorcycle

Leave mine on the bike all the time, nobody touches it.....

Another stupid person, go figure!

johnc wrote:

One of my coworkers had her car window broken and lost her GPS, purse and laptop last Friday. Besides her wallet with ID's and credit cards, she also had a camera in the purse. Cradle was on the windshield but the GPS was put away in the console. She was just stopping at a customer's office to drop off some paperwork and expected to only be away from the car for five minutes. That's all it takes.

The crime was even recorded on the building's security tape. Two guys cruised the parking lot and did a smash & grab on her car presumably because they could see the cradle as they drove by. The whole crime took under 30 seconds. Sadly, the tape is of such poor quality that it's useless for identification purposes.

She's probably out about $2,000 altogether. She swears that she was only out of the car for five minutes or less.

I would have to say your co-worker is not very smart! I would think the purse was the target not the GPSr, it was just a secondary score.
Yikes some people deserve exactly what they get, and she probably leaves her kid in the care while pumping gas with the car running. DUH!

--
Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.

stolen gps

Here's another un-thought of potential problem. GPS stolen out of car along with garage opener. Home icon on gps takes them directly to your house, now with a way to enter, or at least into the garage.

Going "Home"

jaygorman wrote:

Here's another un-thought of potential problem. GPS stolen out of car along with garage opener. Home icon on gps takes them directly to your house, now with a way to enter, or at least into the garage.

And that's one reason my "home" is the middle of an intersection a 1/4 mile away.

--
ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet

Theft

I love my beanbag mount, I just stick the whole thing under the seat when I park my van.

Theft

Same here put the whole thing under the seat, also using a password on the Nuvi360

Thanks

a_user wrote:
jaygorman wrote:

Here's another un-thought of potential problem. GPS stolen out of car along with garage opener. Home icon on gps takes them directly to your house, now with a way to enter, or at least into the garage.

And that's one reason my "home" is the middle of an intersection a 1/4 mile away.

I never gave my garage door opener a thought. I am going to change my "Home" to a playground about 1/2 mile away. I think that it is time to set the Gamin built in lock. It is sad that we have to worry about simple things.

--
Paul..... Nuvi 765T

Stolen GPS issue

I like the beanbag mounts....however, I actually use a black vent mount that I got off of ebay. Therefore, no suction cup or suction rings on the window. Plus, my cig light port is down near floor on my Honda mini-van in addition to tinted windows.

Whenever we get out....we always just pop the Nuvi off of the mount...stick it under the seat.

"out of sight...out of mind"

Just how we do it.

Stu

Yes, it's true

jaygorman wrote:

Here's another un-thought of potential problem. GPS stolen out of car along with garage opener. Home icon on gps takes them directly to your house, now with a way to enter, or at least into the garage.

You're absolutely right, and you make an excellent point, but even if there's no GPS in the car, determined bad guys can also get quick access to your garage or home if they have their own GPS or local map, your garage door opener, and your car registration or anything else from the glove compartment with your home address on it.

This really isn't a GPS problem. It's a garage-door-opener problem.

--
JMoo On

if only there was a way

dagarmin wrote:

This really isn't a GPS problem. It's a garage-door-opener problem.

If only there was some way, when you find that your garage door opener has been stolen, to unplug the garage door opener or just change the code.

Not my GPS and don't Damage my Vehicle

I don't want anyone to take my GPS so I make sure I have it with me all of the time. I usually leave the suction mounted holder on the windshield though and I know that that could lead to someone breaking into the vehicle to see if someone left it under the seat or in the glove box. I may just get a vent mount or bean bag mount so I can leave the GPS bracket out of sight as well.

Many times it is more expensive to repair the vehicle damage than it is to replace a stolen GPS. There aught to be a law against people damaging and stealing your stuff.... lol

talking about GPS got

talking about GPS got stolen, I was wondering if anyone seen someone has hacked the 4 digits security code from the GPS. I guess if someone who has all those free time they can try all the code from 0000 to 9999 and get into your unit

+1 Vent Mount

I really like my vent mount.

I leave it on but its below dash level. You can see it if you look into the car but not if you were just driving around.

GPS comes out quick.

--
Dave - Annapolis, MD

Again?

I thought thefts of GPSrs was a thing of the past, or at least fading as an idea. Prices are low; they are no longer beyond reach and why would anyone want to steal items that would become obsolete in a couple of weeks? It surely is not worth the effort. Naive? maybe.

GPS unit should permanently

GPS unit should permanently lockup if someone enters wrong password for - as an example - 10 times. This will make sure that even if your unit is stolen - it is of no use.

That is a good idea! Some

That is a good idea!
Some online providers and services do the same thing. After X amount of incorrect logins, you are locked out!

Rob

--
Maps -> Wife -> Garmin 12XL -> StreetPilot 2610 -> Nuvi 660 (blown speaker) -> Nuvi 3790LMT

My Nokia cell phone does

My Nokia cell phone does lockup permanently and have to replace the sim card after a certain number of incorrect login. I'm wondering if Garmin GPS will also lockup after a certain number of incorrect login

Most effective innovation

I think putting passwords and lockups on GPS units as a means of deterring theft is a good idea, but a more permanent solution would be to zap the thief with about 100,000 volts with circuitry similar to that in a stun gun.

I wonder how many "corrections" it would take some of the really dumb thieves to leave other peoples possessions alone?

--it's well worth checking out--

IAMCORREY wrote:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/06/eveningnews/main39...

check it out little old but good info

This is well worth checking out, thanks!

--
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--

beanbag

beanbag is the answer

nice

nice

GPS Theft On The Rise

About a year ago my company sent around an e-mail informing all employees that a car was broken into and a GPS unit stolen. They reviewed the steps to be taken; do not leave it exposed, hide it under the seat etc. A few months later three cars were broken into, in the parking lot, and their GPS units stolen. Some people never learn.

The thieves go around with fliers and place them on the windshield. While they are lifting the windshield wiper they take a good look inside for GPSs etc.

Thefts a thing of the past..??? Yea!

There will always be thieves and thefts from cars. No matter how cheap GPS units become. I watched a couple of guys in a supermarket parking lot last week putting flyers on cars and also peering into the vehicles. Since I was going into the store, I told the management of the activity in the parking lot. I never leave my GPS in the car and always remove the vent mount.

--
JG - Nuvi 2460

gps mounts

I installed a small strip of velcro the same color as the dash, and another on the back of my streetpilot and it works great. easy to remove and replace, and hard to see the velcro on the dash with the gps remvoed.

If they don't see it... they don't take it...

I usually drive around with GPS unit sitting by the gear shift. It has TTS so I hardly look at it and when i leave my vehicle, I take it with me. GPS units are small enough now a days that you should be able to put it in your pocket or purse. Even if you remove the mount from the whindshield it leaves the impression on the glass. Thieves know what to look for. If you have valuable things laying around in your car, YOU ARE INVITING THIEVES.
I don't leave anything laying around in the car where it's visible. Not even a PEN, so if they look inside while slapping a flyer on the windshield, they don't see anything. IF THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING, THEY DON'T TAKE ANYTHING.
Just my 2 cents......
Da_Libran

interesting

very interesting topic and lots of good ideas

BobDee you are an unmitigated schmuck.

BobDee wrote:
johnc wrote:

One of my coworkers had her car window broken and lost her GPS, purse and laptop last Friday. Besides her wallet with ID's and credit cards, she also had a camera in the purse. Cradle was on the windshield but the GPS was put away in the console. She was just stopping at a customer's office to drop off some paperwork and expected to only be away from the car for five minutes. That's all it takes.

The crime was even recorded on the building's security tape. Two guys cruised the parking lot and did a smash & grab on her car presumably because they could see the cradle as they drove by. The whole crime took under 30 seconds. Sadly, the tape is of such poor quality that it's useless for identification purposes.

She's probably out about $2,000 altogether. She swears that she was only out of the car for five minutes or less.

I would have to say your co-worker is not very smart! I would think the purse was the target not the GPSr, it was just a secondary score.
Yikes some people deserve exactly what they get, and she probably leaves her kid in the care while pumping gas with the car running. DUH!

BobDee you are an unmitigated schmuck.
Just because she acted stupidly does not mean she deserved to be the victim of a burglary.

--
"Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam" “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

Goes Double for me!

Double Tap wrote:

BobDee you are an unmitigated schmuck.
Just because she acted stupidly does not mean she deserved to be the victim of a burglary.

I agree. Easy to blame the victim and ignore the scumbags who committed the crime huh? When you fall off your high horse Bob, try not to break your neck. God knows we'd hate to have to shoot the horse.

Home

a_user wrote:

And that's one reason my "home" is the middle of an intersection a 1/4 mile away.

After having one vehicle stolen and another broken into, I've been extra vigilant in keeping my address out of the vehicle-registration and proof-of-insurance with a PO box address. I hadn't thought about "home". Thanks for the tip...

My Nissan Titan has a nice storage in the center of the dash for cellphone or sunglasses. I remove the rubber insert and it's the best spot to attach the cradle-perfect placement for using the GPS, out of the way of the windshield, and no telltale suction marks. I'll throw the cradle in the center divider but the Zumo travels with me. Car prowling is epidemic in the Seattle/Tacoma/Pugetropolis area. A quick deterrent would be a legally sanctioned, booby-trapped car with a GPS stuck to the windshield, with a wallet on the seat...it would only take a couple of explosions...and the prowling would drop off...

Early Removal

One thing that I always do, is to remove my beanbag before I get to a space in the mall parking lot. There are many people sitting in cars waiting or looking around. The front windshield is clear and very large, so it is very easy to see you removing it. I will pull over once in the parking lot and remove my beanbag and put it under my seat and put my nuvi in my pocket.

--
Paul..... Nuvi 765T

Too Lazy

When I drive my convertible, most of the time I use the bean bag to hold the 350. When I park, I don't even bother to put the top up, or lock the doors, glove box or trunk. The bean bag stays on the dash, but the GPS is tucked neatly in my shirt pocket, right next to my heart. Nothing to steal in the glove box or the trunk except maybe the spare tire. I don't lock the trunk because it can be released remotely. I went for the hard top convertible so that I could lock the car, but I never leave anything of value in the car. Insurance will cover damage to the car windows, etc. but I doubt that one would be able to have a GPS replaced.

--
nuvi 785 nuvi 350, nuvi 270, GTM 20, jag in dash, mercedes in dash.

smart thing to do ...

Agree with you 100%. Smart thing to do. I told same thing to my kid about her iPod.

Smart thing to do....

pcatch135 wrote:

One thing that I always do, is to remove my beanbag before I get to a space in the mall parking lot. There are many people sitting in cars waiting or looking around. The front windshield is clear and very large, so it is very easy to see you removing it. I will pull over once in the parking lot and remove my beanbag and put it under my seat and put my nuvi in my pocket.

Agree with you 100%. Smart thing to do. I told same thing to my kid about her iPod.

I like it!

zuono2 wrote:
a_user wrote:

And that's one reason my "home" is the middle of an intersection a 1/4 mile away.

After having one vehicle stolen and another broken into, I've been extra vigilant in keeping my address out of the vehicle-registration and proof-of-insurance with a PO box address. I hadn't thought about "home". Thanks for the tip...

My Nissan Titan has a nice storage in the center of the dash for cellphone or sunglasses. I remove the rubber insert and it's the best spot to attach the cradle-perfect placement for using the GPS, out of the way of the windshield, and no telltale suction marks. I'll throw the cradle in the center divider but the Zumo travels with me. Car prowling is epidemic in the Seattle/Tacoma/Pugetropolis area. A quick deterrent would be a legally sanctioned, booby-trapped car with a GPS stuck to the windshield, with a wallet on the seat...it would only take a couple of explosions...and the prowling would drop off...

I like this idea!

--
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--

Just sit and wait :)

zuono2 wrote:
a_user wrote:

And that's one reason my "home" is the middle of an intersection a 1/4 mile away.

After having one vehicle stolen and another broken into, I've been extra vigilant in keeping my address out of the vehicle-registration and proof-of-insurance with a PO box address. I hadn't thought about "home". Thanks for the tip...

My Nissan Titan has a nice storage in the center of the dash for cellphone or sunglasses. I remove the rubber insert and it's the best spot to attach the cradle-perfect placement for using the GPS, out of the way of the windshield, and no telltale suction marks. I'll throw the cradle in the center divider but the Zumo travels with me. Car prowling is epidemic in the Seattle/Tacoma/Pugetropolis area. A quick deterrent would be a legally sanctioned, booby-trapped car with a GPS stuck to the windshield, with a wallet on the seat...it would only take a couple of explosions...and the prowling would drop off...

Forget the explosions, just sit in another car within line of sight and close enough where you can walk rapidly to you vehicle and then shoot the **** while he is in your vehicle. Your defence to the grand jury is "As I approached my vehicle I thought I saw the robber reach for a gun and I was in fear for my life" That works well here in NY.

--
"Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam" “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

Home no more...

After reading several recent posts... I have to agree with jaygorman, who noted in a posting above that anyone who breaks into your car to steal your gps, is pretty much given the 'keys to your castle' if they find your garage door remote there also.

Most folks identify a 'Home' POI, or even a backtrack or breadcrumb function will reveal your home location, giving a thief just the information he needs.

I also will be moving my 'Home' POI location to some fair distance away, and disabling the backtrack function until I need to use it.

Personally, I never leave any electronics visible in the car, and have a fully concealable mount that is always put away.

Wish it didn't have to be this way.

sad

--
Magellan SporTrak, Garmin eTrex & nuvi 760

A Little Precaution Goes A Long Way

All very good ideas. Better safe than sorry.

I'm all for better safe than

I'm all for better safe than sorry!

--
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--

Four Digit Pin.

So does anyone have an idea of how likely it would be to hack a Garmin with the PIN lock active?

I know it was asked before, but never saw an answer. Just another simple solution to keep someone from finding your "Home" location. Turn off the GPS so it's locked if you do want to leave it in your car.

--
Fletch- Nuvi 750

GPS theft

I was robbed last week of my Garmin Zumo. They broke my car window and got it and the traffic antenna that I used. Worst thing is that it is not covered by insurance (like car keys, it is an "accessory" and they just blow you off.

I have bought another GPS and have been trying find a marking system. I have a dremel tool and am looking for stencils, but I really would prefer something better. Any ideas?

--
Bryan L DeVaney

In dash navigation protection

After getting my streetpilot c580 (only cost about $150) stolen plus window broken I decided to get an indash GPS(over $1400 not including enhanced security). Not because I thought it would be more secure but because it was what I wanted in the first place. I am taking the usual actions to minimize future theft but there is one thing that I would like to mention here. While this system is much less obvious than something mounted on the dash, having GPS and/or XM antennas sitting on the dash or anywhere in view is very undesirable. My system shows the GPS signal strength and putting the GPS antenna under the dash (which in my car is plastic) showed no difference in their strength so I have mounted the GPS antenna under the dash. I only assume the same is true for the XM antenna.

Bring it with you

With them on the rise you have to bring it with you. I also put the Garmin lock on it.

--
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score" Lombardi

Theft

My car was broken into in my driveway, the thieves went through a lot of trouble to dismantle the dash to retrieve the power cord. My Nuvi 200W was mounted to a permanent mount on the dash, with the power cord threaded behind the dash.

Now that did give me the need to upgrade my Nuvi, I am now the proud owner and guardian of a new 765T. It doesn't stay in the car and has the Garmin Lock active.

GPS purchases on the rise

I wonder which is growing faster?

--
Nuvi 265WT & Edge 705

Atlanta Metro Folks

If you live in the Atlanta Metro area and were foolish enough to leave your GPS in plain view in the window and it was stolen from your vehicle, perhaps this kid is the culprite. The police are looking for people that may have lost items recently to contact them to see if your stuff is amongst this kids bag of knicks!

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/18548708/detail.html

More protection info check it out

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