Garmin Lock?

How would a GPS receiver ping off of cell towers?

This idea has merit!

This concept would have to be designed/engineered into the unit at manufacture.

I just keep it simple...

-I always keep mine locked-

Just for what it's worth, a friend of mine's son was recently BADLY beaten and robbed. He managed to escape with brain injuries and a partially crushed skull but it could have been worse because they were shooting at him as he ran. The police know who the assailents are but can't pursue the case because the victim is afraid to testify against them. Why? Because they stole his unlocked GPS which clearly shows not only his home but also his parent's home and the home's of many of his friends.

Just for what it's worth, a friend of mine's son was recently BADLY beaten and robbed. He managed to escape with brain injuries and a partially crushed skull but it could have been worse because they were shooting at him as he ran. The police know who the assailents are but can't pursue the case because the victim is afraid to testify against them. Why? Because they stole his unlocked GPS which clearly shows not only his home but also his parent's home and the home's of many of his friends.

That's terrible. Never put your home address in the GPS. Put a close McDonald's, gas station, etc, close by.

I mean, if you can't get home from a close gas station or McDonald's, you don't deserve to drive LOL.

Lock those GPS's!!!

That is a terrible situation. However his failure to testify against them is exactly the situation his attackers want. They will have a had time attacking him from jail and the odds are they have already hocked the GPS without even looking at it. I wonder if your friend's son was armed? I'll bet that he wasn't, if he had been then he might have been able to fight back. But fighting back is something most people think is wrong (they should read the bible).

Jack j

When I first got my nuvi I never considered using the lock as it was an inconvenience. Then I never gave it another thought.

Since reading these posts, I have reconsidered and now have it locked. I had not thought about the real consequences of losing the gps and having personal info on it.

Thanks to all the posters who have enlightened this old mind.

Again, Tubbygrey has it in perspective. Others too. If even a very small minority of GPS users leave their unit in their car for every criminal to see, then those irresponsible individuals should consider leaving some $100.00 dollar bills in plain sight and take the GPS unit with them like most of us do. Then maybe fewer criminials would actually be prowling for GPS units. But they will never get mine because I take it with me even at a two minute stop. So simple, but for the whiners and the lazy it is a different story.....

Garmin Nuvi 885T

Sorry if this question has been asked before.
I have the security lock enabled on my 255w. Whenever I turn the device on, it prompts me to enter my PIN #, even at my safe location. My understanding is that you do NOT need to enter your PIN # at your safe location. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks.

It it suppose to unlock once you enter the location you set it for.I would try a re-set for the security location.

Per page 41 of your manual.
1.Touch Tools,Settings and Security.
2.Touch button below Garmin lock.
3.Enter 4 digit pin number and drive to a security location.

Your security location should be a location you return to often,such as your home.If the Nuvi has a satellite signal and you are at the security location,you do not need to enter a pin number.

How long are you waiting after turning the unit on? If you aren't in a real big hurry, wait a few minutes till it gets satellite lock and see if it unlocks itself.

If after a reasonable wait,you may need to reset it.

phranc:

Thanks for that advice. I waited a few minutes in my safe location and the PIN screen went away.

I use it just because they provide it. It is not that big of hassle and if somebody stole my unit I have a peace of mind that at least they won't be able to use it.

Amen!

Not to mention defending the sensitive info you may have in it, as well-

thats why you own a low model gps!!!!

As much as we want to put bad guys behind bars, sometimes it's smart to stay as far away as we can from their life. A friend of mine became victim of gang initiation related shooting. He survived to tell the story but refused to testify for fear of retaliation. Unlike gang members, we have a lot to lose. They got none. It's just not worth it.

About the lock. Out of curiosity, I searched for ways to hack GPS lock, specifically Garmin lock. Can't find anything related to it. Maybe I'm not good at searching for stuff on the net. I'm surprised to see that no information has been posted on the internet regarding hacking a GPS lock. That doesn't mean it's not doable though.

Well the way i look At it is someone is going to steal my GPS and i have it on lock WHY Not. why should someone else get to use it without paying for it.Sure i never see it again but why should someone else get to use it and it is only 4 numbers

I get a certain amount of satisfaction out of knowing some criminal low life is not going to be rewarded for stealing from me. And if the creep knows that most gps units are useless to them, they probaably won 't risk a prison term for no reward.

I love the lead moving at 1200 ft per second(faster than anyone I know)lol

I didn't read this whole thread. But another thought i had was, Stealing your GPS to find out where you live is not the only place you could find your address. You could look in the glove box, car registration, bills, ect. Something in the glove box is going to have your address on it.

Question- Are there confirmed cases where bad guys have stolen a GPS and robbed a house, or are they just stealing a GPS because its a electronic device that they can make a quick buck on?

Amen!

Yeah, I agree, too-

I'd be even more satisfied if there's a remote self destruct trigger that I can send over the internet, to the GPS sat, down to the GPS unit. Call it a "nuke" button

I guess I've been watching the 24 series way too much.

Sure, there might be a hack for the Garmin lock. I figure by using the lock I'm making sure a dumb thief doesn't get rewarded. If somebody really wants your stuff, eventually they're going to get it. I figure the lock feature just helps put some of the dumb thieves out of business.

I turned it on when I setup the device.

It works good especially when I am at home as the code is not needed. I use codes on my phones etc already as well..so it is a common task.

I lock mine

I just started locking mine a few weeks ago. My friend had his window smashed and GPS stolen, but wasn't using the lock. He wished he had the satisfaction of knowing that they couldn't use it. If everyone used the locking feature, there would probably be less GPS theft (or more GPS anti-theft hackers).

The documents in the glove box don't give turn by turn directions to an (probably) unfamilar town/location.

Good point-

They would if the thief now also has your unlocked GPS and enters the address. Use that Garmin Lock!

Is there a way to bypass the lock? Yesterday while getting in to my car, I turned the unit on and just carried it in my hand while waiting for it to load. I got in the car and went to enter my pin, it was already on the selection screen (bypassed the lock). I was shocked to see it on that screen.

I thought it was maybe because of my unlock point, but my unlock point is a kilometer down the road.

Anyone eles experience this?

I have a Garmin 360 with WAAS turned on. If that makes a difference.

.......

it will take muck lesser time unless you have a lock code '9999'.

I use the lock feature and i also leave mine in my car in the open. If my car is touched there will be hell to pay. Plus i have a two-way alarm on my car that will alert if the car is touched or someone is to close to it.

My reply was to a response that people would have your address anyway if they broke into your car. I'm a strong proponent of using the lock. I think Garmin should allow 5 digits and/or customize the # of digits.

That must keep you very busy! You keep this thing on ALL the time? What make is the car that you have to do this ALL the time? Wouldn't it be simpler to take your GPS with you?

This sounds so satisfying.

Yes it does-

Yep!

The beanbag goes under the seat, the Nuvi goes in the console, so unless someone is specifically watching me as I park they do not know I have a GPS.

In NY State you must have an insurance card in the car while it is in use on public roads, therefore unless you have the ID card in your wallet or purse (it measures 8.5 x 5 inches) a burglar will know where you live if they break in.

My answer is do as the Saudis do, cut off the hand of a convicted thief. That has the desired effect, it makes it much harder for that person to seal again and puts fear in the heart of potential thief's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvManLrqoM4

--I tried it, and my Garmin Lock came up first, just like it's supposed to. Even if that technique does work on some of the GPS units, not all thieves know how to use it.

As stated in earlier posts... keeping them locked is a very cheap & easy way to make sure stealing it wont pay, and a reasonable deterrent if everyone actually does it. Why give it to them on a silver platter instead of using the four quick & easy (for the owner) numbers??? How hard can that be?

Putting that video-link in front of everybody to justify apathy toward due-diligence (incase that cheater's-technique does actually work on some models) is a disservice to GPS owners everywhere, since it could spread troublesome info to some of the wrong kind of people.

That's correct. If you look at that Youtube video carefully, it doesn't say anything about unlocking Garmin GPS, does it? DT and a Youtube user comment assume that a reset means bypassing the lock.

Fact is Garmin knowledge base tells us how to do a slightly different trick to do a "master reset" to erase user data. For example, on a Nuvi 7xx series, bottom right corner is where the "hidden" secret is.

I highly doubt that Garmin would teach us how to bypass their own security.

I try the and I did not find the way to by pass the garmin lock. The youtube video does not say if the gps was with the lock on or off.
If it is possible I did not find the way to unlock the gps.
I have a garmin 670.

I'm sure that if the crooks are pro and into stealing GPS units from cars. they most likely have a code generator that they can use to unlock the units and resell them.

Ahh the conspiracy theorists are out and kicking.

Make your home location the nearest police station.
I always have it on.

I make mine the church parking lot. Less likely for a thief there than at the police station.