Every 7 minutes a car is stolen and now robbers are after Your GPS
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
March 21, 2008 5:11pm CST
a GPS is the device that car owners use to find out destinations, it is a great device especially for tourists who do not know there way around, the electronic device will tell you how to get to your destination,
problem is they are being robbed from cars right and left,
It is a big problem in MOntreal, people are parking their cars and malls and their whole is stolen or their window is broken and the GPS is taking out.
NOw must people display the gps on their dashboard, they please are saying it is a bad idea,
even if you hide the gps in your glove compartment or take it with you when you leave the car if you leave the stand there in the car the thieves know you have one and they will search your car to find it.
be careful don't advertise what you have or you many not have it for long.
how do you protect your valuables in your car?
do you have a gps or know anyone who does?
3 people like this
10 responses
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
22 Mar 08
Wow--- well I didn't think of this before.. but yeah why wouldn't they take it. I mean it is worth some money- My parents have one. I don't-
I usually lock everything in the trunk-- thinking it's out of sight--- I don't leave many valuables in my car usually-- I know there are so many dishonest people out there looking to make a buck. It's too bad!
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I just recently heard about all the problems with peoples GPS devices being stolen. Anything left in plain view is asking for trouble these days. With the increase in crime, I do not leave anything valuable exposed. I just got a GPS device of my own and got a mount that is easy to take off the dashboard and leaves no marks of any kind. I will be taking the mount and device with me when I leave my car.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
26 Mar 08
I don't have a GPS in my car, because I prefer to use the A to Z to get where I need to go or plot a route out on the computer using AA roadmaps on line and then print them out. I think GPS is an unnecessary luxury and they have been known to get routes wrong! I am very careful about leaving anything in my car on show, even coins in my little tray I cover over, it's just not worth inviting robbers by leaving stuff out which they can easily see and steal.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Mar 08
Expensive electronic toys left visible in cars..never a good idea...Thieves are ALWAYS after goodies left on display..cellphones,wallets,purses,laptops,Ipods,SatNav's..even leaving the mark of a suction mount on the windscreen can be enough for an opportunistic observer to make the connection and take action with a half brick...If you're not taking it with you,lock it away-I read an article that recommended you don't Program your home address into these GPS devices in case if it WAS Stolen,an organised thief could be breaking in to your house before You got back!
The "Home" Key on mine brings me only to the main road junction near my place!
1 person likes this
@luv2cook4u (398)
• United States
22 Mar 08
Thank you so much for sharing about not programming your home address into the GPS. I had just never thought about it since we ALWAYS take the GPS (and the stand) out of the vehicle. However, I also realize that it could get lost or stolen right out of our pocket. I also had not thought about the suction mark being left behind on the windshield. I never leave items of value in my vehicle, but I still don't like the thought of others going through my stuff.
1 person likes this
@the_ruler (1442)
• Turkey
22 Mar 08
GPS (global positioning system) is a great device really. It used to be for airplanes only in the past and since the cars are becoming as big as (and as expensive as) aircrafts they are having GPS devices too.
I don't have a car, and a GPS device but also in my city, protecting valuables in your car is an important problem. Even protecting cars is not easy. I think the governement and the police departmens should be working more effectively againist robbery. As you already know it could be our life what a robber someone wants. (Especially if you are trying to protect yourself,or your goods)
I am just so pessimistic about society nowadays... I am not sure if it is my phsychology or if the world is really going insane after all...
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
22 Mar 08
it is impossible for a police force to be everywhere there are just some of them to patrol a big city like ours, if they are out trying to patrol the streets, they can't be at your house too when you call for help, nor can them be looking for missing children,
they have a certain number of people on call to do the work and the rest is for citizens to be responsible too.
@alexwander (170)
• Canada
22 Mar 08
Only when GPS becomes cheap enough that thieves aren't interested in them. In the 80's and 90's car cassette stereo was the major cause of car theft. Then few people stole them because they were cheap, common and out-dated. Displaying expensive car gadgets is like displaying $100 bills in a car.
Some luxurious cars come with on-board GPS, those embedded on the dash board. In the future GPS will become common just like the car radio. Then another expensive gadget will become the target for thieves...
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
22 Mar 08
That is awful. We don't have a GPS in either one of our vehicles. We do have an alarm system on our car though. If someone tries to steal it, the alarm will sound off. I really can't think of anyone who has a GPS system in my family. We also carry insurance to cover the valuables.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
21 Mar 08
The friend who came to see me had one in their car which is how they found where I lived having only been here once and I'm tucked away and hard to find, but I still use the convential map book myself. There was a lorry stuck for three days down one of are small country lanes because he used this system. They are expensive items and yes obviously a prime target for thieves. Definately not on my want list and they can't take what you haven't got eh! Ellie :D
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
21 Mar 08
We do have gps but it is not left in the car and neither is the stand, you cannot leave anything anywhere these days without some little toerag thief deciding they want it. It is so annoying.
1 person likes this
@chris1314 (784)
•
21 Mar 08
Here in the UK, it is more along the lines of ever 3 mins one gets stolen!
I know people who have hidden the holder and the GPS device well away, but then the theifs notice a suction mark on the front window, and break in to try and find one, they will atre your care apart looking for one!
I recently bought 2 new mobiles, one for me and one for my dad. They both have built in GPS, so its GPs on a cell phone, so there is no need for any other device, and as you always take your cell with you everywhere, there is never anything to steal. I think this is a much better idea that a device such as a tomtom, which most people hide in their cars, under seats etc. Because you always take it with you =]
Chris 
