stolen gps

Ummm...I would see it as an invitation to steal it, but that is my own opinion, not fact

Hi, everyone! I just tried bypassing Garmin Lock on my Nuvi 660 w/v4.2 software and was NOT successful. No PIN, no unlock.

Miki

So, is this just a comment or were you expecting it too? I am sorta confused.

I agree with gdfaini. About all you can do is set splashscreen with name and contact number, and maybe "Garmin lock enabled".

On a lighter note, my neighbor says he's afraid to leave his Tom Tom on the dashboard 'cause someone might smash the window and leave another Tom Tom next to his.

So don't leave Miami Dolphins tickets on the dashboard either, unless you're looking to acquire more tickets.

Any one have any thoughts on the best tool to use or way to engave your name on the side of your GPS?

I figure it might not prevent theft, but it might help my GPS get back to me if stolen.

I suggest simply putting your contact info on the Splash screen and locking the GPSr.

New update--
Changes from version 4.30 to version 4.40:
Correct a problem with the Detour function locking up
Corrected translations of Go Home
Updated Traffic Translations

This tread got kinda long and I didn't read it through thoroughly, but I'm not sure your original question was answered. No, Garmin cannot track your GPS unit. It doesn't emit a signal for them to track. But as was said, if you registered it and used the Garmin Lock, the only way for the thief to unlock it is send it back to Garmin. So report it stolen to Garmin and they will notify you if it shows up.

If your question was answered... never mind!

This comment has been moved here.

Place "Reward if returned, no questions asked" on splashscreen in additon to name and contact number. You might stand a better chance of getting it back.

Two days ago I had my window smashed and my TomTom swiped. The cop who made the police report for me said I was the 5th person in our neighborhood he had seen that morning and was on his way to the sixth. Someone was making the rounds. It seems like all they were interested in was the GPS because they left my cell phone and digital camera alone... a smash and grab if you will. It was about the first and only time I had left it on the window, my own stupidity, but I got home really late and just wanted to go inside... So a $300 Mini window and a stolen GPS later I've learned the hard way to take the minute and hide the goods...

Would have never crossed my mind that a theif would be smart enough to associate the windshield "ring" as a potential target... Thank you thread for the tip and I've been educated for next time..

FWIW...

It's a bit amusing to think simply putting your name/photo on the unit will somehow deter the criminals. It was something you set, and it can be changed, and they know how to change it.

Frankly, the risk of theft is part of why I refuse to spend more than $200 on a GPS. My Nuvi 200 was under $170, and has all the "necessary" features.

I have had xm satallite radio for 3 years now and it is in plain site and no one has broken into my car to steal it, also now have a gps and a ipod in there i should definetly be more careful. I saw something very funny the other day but it does help conseal that you have a gps. I saw a guy with one of them hula dancer bobble head things with a suction cup attached and he placed it where the suction cup dash mount is for his gps. i thought that was kinda funny but i guess it works. then i also saw someone else who put a hat over his gps to conseal it. I think the hula dancer is a better idea.

I also keep my Sirius radio mounted on my windshield. They aren't stolen because they are useless to thiefs. Once it is stolen you will notify XM or Sirius and the stolen radio is deactivated.

The name and contact info that I put on my GPSr cannot be changed without my PIN. It might not prefer theft, but makes the unit worthless to the thief. He can't sell it if it is locked and displays my contact info.

I've haven't tried this yet, but if you have a PIN configured, does it require it to function if I connect the unit to the PC via USB?

yes you do need the pin in order for it to work on your computer. I have tried this.

I agree - the bobble hula head doll is funny. But if you could recognize that the suction cup dash mount as one that is paired with a GPS, couldn't a thief also know that the doll is just a cover? And thus the thief would just break in anyway and look for the GPS?

Can you walk us through this "hacking" and customizing (the info screen)process?

I can tell you for a Mio brand how to hack, actually I would send you to plenty of sites for all sorts of Mio hacks.

My suggestion is to Internet search for "Garmin hacks" to find some hacks and see if you can replace the splash or other screens. I don't know if any have been mentioned here.

This is a long thread so I may be duplicating info here. I used a program called xImage (from Garmin's web site) to download the splash screen as a .bmp to my PC. Then I used Photoshop to put my name and email address on the screen. Then xImage to upload it back to the Garmin (c340 in my case).

I understand you can change the picture, too. Haven't tried that yet.

Honestly, I probably would not have noticed it unless i saw him take the gps off and replace it with the bobble head.

That is just to funny. That makes me want to go out and get a bobble head doll tonight.

This isn't a hack. It is merely a JPG that has been selected as the splash screen from the Picture Viewer.

i just got my c320 stolen couple weeks back. i had accidentally left it in the mount running late to get to a movie. By the time i came out my window was smashed and only gps gone... left everything else inside the car... the thief didnt even check my glove comparment where i had my ipod and digital camera. He knew what he wanted and left...

have a new nuvi 350.. with lock enabled just so that the thieves wont be able to use the unit even if they try and break in again... and i always remember to take it off the mount and into my pocket it goes..

i had mine broken into in the july because my mount was on the windshield they opened the glove box and center counsel and threw everything out but took nothing including the my stereo system but im never dumb even to leave somethin that fits in my pocket that costs a few hundred dollars in my pocket

well what im going to do is take the mount and the gps out of my vehicle the only thing that will be in there is the dash mounted disk, thats it. and even that is hard to see unless you know what you are looking for because my dash is black and i keep it armor alled to keep it shiny, plus the disk is on the drivers side right above where my headlight switch is, so the only way to spot the disk is to look at it from the front.

I made a splash screen with an International Warning Triangle that says: "Stolen GPS Tracking: Activated" and "Call XXX-XXX-XXXX for Reward"

If you would like to see it, you can download it from
http://homepage.mac.com/bwthompson/.cv/bwthompson/Sites/.Pub...

I don't know if this will help but it may scare a dumb thief into either not using it, or encouraging the honest person to call me.

Here's a site that will generate a warning label for you:

http://www.warninglabelgenerator.com/

The output needs to be resized to fit into a GPS screen, but it can be easily done with many graphics programs.

I particularly like the "Security Notice" label.

We have a fake security camera that does much the same thing (just blinks).

I think it works, provides at least some deterrent...

I went to the website recommeded by Stiper and it's worth visiting. One recommendation from this site is to engrave your GPS. This will certainly make it more difficult for a thief to sell your unit.

in my part of the county. I see GPSs' on the windshield's when the driver's away from the car . I have never heard of one getting lifted. That's not saying it's never happened, but there's a lot of things you never hear about.
Mine always goes with me when I leave the car.

I read on here under faq and did the same thing to both my units. Wifes c330 with xwhatever and my 530. Hopefully the theif won't know how to download the software and remove contact info. on 330. (yeah right, huh?) the 530 has the lock so thats all they'll see is my contact info. (tho this could effectively cause them not to attempt to send the unit in to Garmin to have unlocked where I would at leaste get it back) Hopefully in the leaste it will cause some frustration. I HATE THEIVES.

I love Texas. They have the right attitude for handling things.

That's why the bean bag is up to around $40. I bought mine on sale in Sept. for $19.99. Pretty big jump and they may go even higher.

Hi All,

Well it happened to us right in front of a major chain movie theater last night in North Brunswick, NJ. We were parked under a street lamp in the first row and in plain view of the entrance. Usually we take everything, and of all days, we didn't. The passenger window has already been replaced, this morning, but what a hassle!

The officer said they get 200 reports per year for this at that same theater ( I wish I had known that before, I have lived in the area since 1994!), and the theater has not put security cameras, and will not have any officers there, except for a few days a week, during weekend (speaking in terms of money, it makes sense for them, as there are far less patrons during the week). He said they take the tip of a spark plug, and breaking the window makes no sound at all, it takes them 7-10 seconds and then they are gone. With the rise of GPS popularity, they are having a blast! He said they sell them on French street in New Brunswick for $25/pop. He's been in his car writing a report, when 10 cars down, the same thing is happening. Take your bracket, GPS and anything else with you out of the car!

Thieves are so bold that they'd almost break into your car with you still in it! Its sad

How do you set a splash screen? I have a 200w, and didn't see that option.

thanks,
--kyle

Put any photo you want to use on the nüvi or SD, select it from the photo viewer and check the box.

Bean bag is the way to go. I had an old mountfrom the Streetpilot 2820 and converted it by mounting an old mirror onto the bean bag. It now works great as a base for the Nuvi 680. I'm in Minnesota and they don't allow window mounts anyway. I always take the GPS with me and simply place the beanbag on the floor and cover it.

Jen, the key word you used was thinks. It just hasn't happened yet, and I hope it doesn't.

However if he leaves it in his car it will get stolen.
How many times have you walked past a car alarm or even heard one and do nothing? my own experience says if you don't take with you someone else will, even with the blinking red light.

The world is full of unscrupulous people that feel, whats your is also theirs for the taking.
You go to work have a job work hard for the things you have, Then boom a thief hits does what he thinks is going to work at his job and takes it away from you.

Wanna keep it? Trunk it, take it or loose it

This does not bypass security. Most likely, you bypassed security because you were in your security location.

There is NO WAY to break the code, unless you spent the time to enter every 4 digit PIN number combination possible.

Use the lock, when someone calls Garmin, they get it back. Even if the POS that stole it throws it away, at least it may be found.

Sounds to me like he is advertising his GPS for crooks. LOOK HERE! IT'S A RED LIGHT SPECIAL!!!

He's hoping the crooks will identify it as the same as a car radio with a security code. When you cut the power, the radio needs to be unlocked with a security code before it will work again. With the ignition off, the radios will have a blinking LED to warn that they are secured.

Is there another screen besides the "splash" screen that you can customize?

People keep talking about customizing the "info screen" or something...is that what shows up when you put in the wrong code? I have a custom splash on my unit, but it's just for decoration...is there another screen I should know about?

Not that I know of. I put the contact and ownership info in my splash screen.

... know how to change that too.

Tried to delete my post. Didn't work. Sorry!