RE: Thieves target satnavs
Tuesday 23rd August 2005
Take it with youDon't leave your portable satnav in the car -- because according to Auto Express, there's mini-crime wave underway. With many devices left in full view, thieves are nicking them simply by breaking a car's side window.
Thieves target satnavs
Crime wave is underway, say police
Take it with you
West Yorks police said that 135 had been stolen from cars between April and July this year. "Thieves are targeting them because they're so expensive to buy and simple to remove," DC Russ Conlon told the magazine.
The other reason they're easy to steal is that, unlike audio equipment, they don't carry security codes, and are simply suckered to the windscreen or slide out of a mount on the dash. Conlon warned against leaving your satnav unit in the glovebox too, as it's the first place thieves look.
The problem has also reached such proportions in Northumbria that the chief constable has set up a specialist unit to tackle the problem.
Police said that drivers who find their sat-nav unit has been stolen should ring the manufacturer or software supplier to get the signal cancelled, making it useless to the thief.
It's a sad indictment...
Discussion
[quote=Some daft police person]Police said that drivers who find their sat-nav unit has been stolen should ring the manufacturer or software supplier to get the signal cancelled, making it useless to the thief.[/quote]There is absolutly no way to "disable" a TomTom, SmartNav or any other device.
Shush :rolleyes:
J
Shush :rolleyes:
J
pointing out the bl**ding obvious said:
West Yorks police said that 135 had been stolen from cars between April and July this year. "Thieves are targeting them because they're so expensive to buy and simple to remove," DC Russ Conlon told the magazine.
There is a Policeman who is worth every penny this year, he must of graduated top of Pointing out the Obvious class.
What riles me is that dishonest 
ers are willing to buy these things at Car Boot sales and down the pub.
Each unit does have a serial number. I suppose if the suppliers cared enough they could deny units further map updates...maybe.
I really badly want the "car defence" system fitted to that coupe in the original Robocop....
ers are willing to buy these things at Car Boot sales and down the pub. Each unit does have a serial number. I suppose if the suppliers cared enough they could deny units further map updates...maybe.
I really badly want the "car defence" system fitted to that coupe in the original Robocop....
dazren said:
If you leave your satnav in full view, then you almost deserve to have it stolen.
If you do this I don't think you should be surprised if it gets stolen. Don't think you deserve it!
DAZ
I agree if you leave 400 quids worth of easily-removed equipment on view with only a piece of glass to protect it you really are asking for trouble. Do people have no common sense?
Man, always take the face of your stereo, disassemble your satnav and remove it from view ... in fact clear every loose item from the cockpit of your car so its completely clear so thieves are less likely to suspect there is anything of worth in the car ...
... clearly these 135 people need to be shown how to suck eggs too
... clearly these 135 people need to be shown how to suck eggs too
All sounds so simple does'nt it? Try telling Trafficmaster that you want to be able to remove your new Trafficmaster display from the car for security reasons and they will tell you it is not possible!
My old Trafficmaster was easy to remove to a safe area but the new colour model has to be hard wired in & they have to install it, ( £90 + vat if I remember correctly),if you want the warranty honoured.
I managed to get the 1st installation man to install it so I can move the unit to the glove compartment still connected to the cable but that still sounded like an unsatisfactory compromise to me.There are no accessible plugs on the leads so I'm stuck with it - unless anyone has found a solution?
My old Trafficmaster was easy to remove to a safe area but the new colour model has to be hard wired in & they have to install it, ( £90 + vat if I remember correctly),if you want the warranty honoured.
I managed to get the 1st installation man to install it so I can move the unit to the glove compartment still connected to the cable but that still sounded like an unsatisfactory compromise to me.There are no accessible plugs on the leads so I'm stuck with it - unless anyone has found a solution?
Thought about this other day there while dismantling my portable system. Ended up cleaning the ring mark off the windscreen so as not to give the scrotes any ideas.
Never, ever give them the satisfaction.
Oh and if you do find someone selling one off cheap down the pub or car boot sale I would report it to the police.
Never, ever give them the satisfaction.
Oh and if you do find someone selling one off cheap down the pub or car boot sale I would report it to the police.
It sounds a bit lame, but this is the main reason I paid a fortune to spec integrated satnav in my new car.
OK, it costs about 3 times what a portable system costs, but it's worth it not to have to more crap to carry around (or even worse, to have to convinve the missus to carry in her handbag)
OK, it costs about 3 times what a portable system costs, but it's worth it not to have to more crap to carry around (or even worse, to have to convinve the missus to carry in her handbag)
joust said:
Police said that drivers who find their sat-nav unit has been stolen should ring the manufacturer or software supplier to get the signal cancelled, making it useless to the thief.
Shush
Word. Laughable, isn't it.
lucozade said:
Thought about this other day there while dismantling my portable system. Ended up cleaning the ring mark off the windscreen so as not to give the scrotes any ideas.
...and I guess that also goes for those of us who've installed a charging cradle for a PDA...one little look through the window and it's obvious.
Of course, never leave it in glovebox, but by the time the b
ds have discovered that, one broken window and a shed-load of hassle....Get security filmn fitted to all the windows apart for the front screen (for obvious reasons) its completely clear and will take a good 5 mins plus of beatings from bricks crow bars etc , got it on the focus to keep arseholes out , but also remove anything of value , although i never seem to bother with the road angel as its a pointless thing to steal because after 1 phonecall its usless
joust said:
Police said that drivers who find their sat-nav unit has been stolen should ring the manufacturer or software supplier to get the signal cancelled, making it useless to the thief.
Shush
J
On the latest TTG's isn't the map coded to match the unit..? So if you took the SD card with you... then it's useless...?
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