Who says criminals are stupid? Heads up!

[door knob solitaire]

Looks like they do have some brain matter after all...

The thieves have figured out the greatest concentration of GPS systems are in unattended cars at hotels. They find the out of state plates...look for the GPS holder and break out a window in hopes of finding it under the seat etc. Our local PD says the holders aren''t usually empty-GPS left in plain sight.

Who said criminals are stupid? Looks to me the GPS owner is ...oops.

 

[hairgirl95]

What will they think of next?? Both my parents have a GPS (they could never navigate the city I live in when they visit if they DIDN''T have one

) and I had never thought of them taking the GPS physically out of the car. I know they always shove it in the glovebox. Makes ya stop and think!

 

[Deelight]

Yups thats why even on the GPS box (well for tomtom''s they do) they tell you not to leave holders in plain sight.

If I am using my tomtom I disconnect before I park and I pop it all into my handbag and take it with me.

I can''t understand why people would want to give people a reason to break into their cars *shakes head*

 

[door knob solitaire]

That Tom Tom is the highest targeted model...well that is what they said. I still think it is brilliant to go where the salesmen and business travelers are. In the wee hours with only Rentacops to grab them.

 

[Selkie]

I was staying at a hotel in Oakland last month and someone did EXACTLY that to a car (not mine) right in front of the main entrance, at 7:30am! Brazen.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Geez! It amazes me what these crooks come up with!

 

[VegasAngel]

I should be better about taking mine along when I get out of my car but most of the time I leave it in. If I''m in a really bad neighborhood or at the mall etc.. I take it out.

 

[butterfly 17]

It''s funny but my husband is a cop in Brooklyn, NY and he is constantly telling me to hide the holder, not just the GPS itself. He says it is happening alot in his area. Yet I never do it.

I will start doing now though. It''s just a pain to remove it and then to have to reattach. But it beats having to replace the broken window/s, repair any damage the thieves may do to the inside of the car looking for things, and of course having the replace the GPS itself.

 

[sumbride]

They are so frequently stolen here that I don''t even want one because it would be annoying to have to take it out every single time. They have a high resale value so they are almost a guaranteed break-in. Every time my friends come over I have to remind them not to leave things in their cars because they all live in the "safe" suburbs. So what do they do? Put things in their trunk. In plain sight. Yeah, not so much better.

Don''t leave things in your cars, people. I don''t care where you live!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

my dad had the same problem with his car stereo. For some reason, people just kept taking it. He finally bought one with a removable faceplate he takes in at night and hasn''t had any problems since.

 

[perry]

While it might not be politically correct to ask a few pertinant questions:

1) Just who is stupid in this situation?

2) Why do most people even need a GPS?

3) Why do people buy used goods that are most likely stolen? (the thieves are not stealing these items for themselves... their is a market they can sell them to).

Perry

 

[door knob solitaire]

Perry...you are right...if left out in plain sight...it is obvious which is.

Have you ever traveled to a new city? Are avenues running east and west there or do only run north and south? Which way are Blvds...the system is a life saver when you are punching a time clock and have an appointment to make. You keep driving safely instead of the map stuck in between you and the wheel...or windshield.

Oh one benefit is you are spelling the street name and not attempting pronouciation to a local who hears you say another street. GPS is great for many reasons.

Yea the old outdated map still has merit...but just like your land phone it has limitations. I think the GPS user should obtain lower insurance rates. They aren''t fumbling with a map and stopping to read every sign...they are safer.

Well...I still agree with you on your stupid point. Uh duh.

 

[Deelight]

Date: 2/23/2008 3:24:59 AM
Author: door knob solitaire
That Tom Tom is the highest targeted model...well that is what they said. I still think it is brilliant to go where the salesmen and business travelers are. In the wee hours with only Rentacops to grab them.

I would believe that I LOVE mah tomtom and they are one of the best ones out there .

I learned my lesson when one night after work my car window was smashed as someone tried to yank out my CD/MP3 player which they failed at and just manged to damage the console and the player.

People will steal anything they think is of value. Now I have a detachable face and it has not happened since.


And in an attempt to answer your questions Perry

While it might not be politically correct to ask a few pertinant questions:

1) Just who is stupid in this situation?

Umm I leave that one to the jury to decide

2) Why do most people even need a GPS?

It is easier for me to read then a referdex and I am bad with maps in general if I need to go somewhere I have never been before it tells me where to go and in the quickest route, also if you get lost it will re-calibrate where you are and re-lead you to your destination. You can also use them when your broken down to pin point your location if you need help and finally they show where all the fixed red light and speed cameras are . And the Irish voice of Sean my navigator is awesome


3) Why do people buy used goods that are most likely stolen? (the thieves are not stealing these items for themselves... their is a market they can sell them to).

If you take it with you and all the markers that show you have it no reason for it to be stolen. People also steal wallets and handbags but I still have one as well .

Perry

 

[VegasAngel]

Perry I love my GPS. I''m sure as heck not going to stare at a map when I can have something that gives me exact directions. They are great especially if you do a lot of traveling.

 

[perry]

For the information of all:

I probably do more driving traveling than most of you... to most parts of the US over the years.

For example: Last summer I did a 2.5 week driving vacation that took me from Wisconsin, to Salt Lake City, to Vegas, To just north of San Diego CA (to puruse the gemvaults of Palagems - look for the thread in Colored Jemstones; and if you don''t know who Palagems is - you really need to find that thread from last July), up the cost to Seattle, and back to Wisconsin.

I have probably driven to locations all over virtually every major city in the US.

I often set out on weekend to week long trips just saying: Lets drive this way and see what I find...

Do I occasionally get lost - or even misdirected. Sure, but I always seem to turn those events into an adventure. One of my best travel memories - ever - was from taking a wrong turn and driving some old route highway and county roads through the fingerlakes region of NY state.

Might a GPS be handy sometimes. Perhaps; but I just don''t see the need - and people did quite well without them. I have not seen any evidence that GPS''s have made much improvement in travel times - and in fact sometimes they route people through poor choices for roads (the shortes road might not be the quickest). I believe 60 Minutes did a story about those kinds of problems recently.

Perry

 

[joflier]

Date: 2/23/2008 9:07:44 PM
Author: perry
While it might not be politically correct to ask a few pertinant questions:

1) Just who is stupid in this situation?

2) Why do most people even need a GPS?

3) Why do people buy used goods that are most likely stolen? (the thieves are not stealing these items for themselves... their is a market they can sell them to).

Perry

Hmmm.....this made me laugh just a little. As we just got back from Tucson, our GPS was a godsend. Big city driving is newer task for me. I''m sure its easy once you get aquainted with the area. I''m fairly good with directions, but DH.....oh the poor boy gets lost going someplace he''s gone a 1000 times before. (I''m really not exaggerating) He gets disoriented very easily. Sometimes I think if he didn''t have his GPS, he might not make it home at night! (ok yes, that was an exaggeration)

 

[LegacyGirl]

Ugh I wrote this whole thing but PS deleted it.


Long story short I hate theives.

 

[butterfly 17]

I have had my GPS for a few months and I love it!! I can''t imagine not having it. NO more maps, no more cell phones, I think it is one of the best purchases I have ever made.

I have the Garmin Nuvi with bluetooth, I can''t even begin to tell you the benefit of the bluetooth. When someone calls me on my cellphone, it picks up on my GPS and allows me to speak with the person via the GPS on speakerphone.

It automatically stores all my phone numbers directly accessing my phone, so that when I need to make a phone call, I don''t have to whip out the phone, I just use the GPS and press CALL and it will automatically call the person for me. No handheld access.

My husband and I love to go on day trips with the girls and we love that we can put any place in the US and just go without having to figure out maps, where to stay, where the gas station is, etc.

For example, this summer we went to Boston. We packed up the car and kids and hopped in and just programmed the hotel into the GPS. When we got to the hotel, we were hungry and wanted to try Cambodian food. I had heard of a restaurant named Elephant Walk and I put the name of the Restaurant into the GPS and not only did it come out with the address, it also had the phone number, which I called through the GPS, to find out the hours of operation.

Once I hung up with them, I pressed go and off we went to the restaurant with the GPS.

After we ate, we decided to stop by the city itself and I wanted to visit the Khiel store and we GPS''d that, called the store to make sure it would be open (again through the GPS), and went there as well.

Another cool thing is that you can GPS yourself. If you have your GPS in your bag and are just walking in a strange city, are trying to get somewhere but not sure which direction you are in, you just carry it. I carry my GPS when I get out of the car and use it to find places that I am not familiar with or know where they are. LIke museums, ATMs, shopping centers, anything you can think of.

I even use it to GPS gas stations when I am out of state.

I just find it to be so helpful and it allows us alot more freedom on the road than we would normally be used to.

Try it, you will see what I mean.

 

[Fly Girl]

Wow. I had no idea GPS were so popular for driving. I have had a Garmin 196 for flying for years, but I never use it while driving, although I could. I just like using maps. BTW, GPS units are very popular among pilots. I know one fellow who has 4 units in his plane, because he wants lots of backups in case of battery failure.

I have always taken the unit with me at night. Breaking into a locked airplane is not difficult, and I never wanted to take the chance of it being stolen.

I have gotten rental cars with GPS units installed, and I even insisted on one when I rented a car in Manhattan to drive to a business appointment in Long Island. Even so, half the time I ignore the GPS suggested route and go the way I prefer.

I agree with Perry about the adventure of just going. It helps that I am not afraid of getting lost. In fact, I never get lost. I might be temporarily unsure of my present position, but I am never lost.