Travel Technology - Got a GPS unit? Here is a tip...

Most of you with a GPS system (handheld or in-car) will probably have your home address programmed in it.

Don't.

I've now read several reports that these systems are used when thieves steal the car and then just tell it to "go home". Most of the time if your car isn't home, neither are you, making it easier for them to break into your house as well and rob you. Especially if you have a garage door opener in the car....

Just for grins you should program the address of the closest local Police station. :D

Thats a good tip....a friend of mine has his programed with his home address.

Aren't the thieves about as likely to find someone home as not? I mean, there are a lot of multi-car families out there...

And why would a lost handheld suggest there was no one home anyway?

I'm not sure I agree with the premise.

So does this mean that you cannot your insurance or registration cards in the car? Often those have the address, and I know of people who have lost stuff this way as well.

Thief breaks into car, finds registration, assumes no one is home and travels to house (stealing garage door opener as well). This is a problem with or without nav.

In California, you are required to keep your registration with the vehicle and surrender it on demand (different debate) if a peace officer asks for it. If you didn't have it in the car, a thief would not know how to find your house.

Interesting, but narrow tip.

I've now read several reports that these systems are used when thieves steal the car and then just tell it to "go home". Most of the time if your car isn't home, neither are you, making it easier for them to break into your house as well and rob you. Especially if you have a garage door opener in the car.... Let's see, folks could make their daily lives easier and keep their home address programmed into their GPS or they could get overly paranoid, inconvenience themselves and make things really tough :rolleyes: for car thieves by requiring the thief look at the address on the registration or other papers in the car before using the GPS to drive to your house.

Let's see, folks could make their daily lives easier and keep their home address programmed into their GPS or they could get overly paranoid, inconvenience themselves and make things really tough :rolleyes: for car thieves by requiring the thief look at the address on the registration or other papers in the car before using the GPS to drive to your house.

Folks could just as well use a nearby intersection to their office/residence or the address of a public place that is not too far away.

I thought it was a fairly sensible tip. Lots of people use "alternate" addresses for insurance and registration purposes anyway.

I'm not sure I agree with the premise.

It wasn't something I was asking people to agree with. That is why I called it a TIP. You are free to do whatever you want, I honestly don't care.

In my case it was just one simple thing that would make it harder for thieves to track down my place. Paperwork in my car doesn't have my home address on it.

Our system always gets put in the trunk whenever we get out of the car.

It wasn't something I was asking people to agree with. That is why I called it a TIP.
No. You called it "an important tip." Anyway, this sort of analysis is what you get when you post in the "travel tech" forum. Consider:

- Per brentley, The vast majority of people list their home address on their insurance and car registration cards, left in their glove compartment.
- Car thieves could also be house thieves, but that takes planning and time.
- People drive cars because they don't live near work. I have this mental image of the crook pressing "home" only to find out their facing a killer commute to targeted house.
- As soon as you break into the car, the clock starts ticking. How long do you want to keep the car?
- Anyone entering your car illegally is probably more interested in either
A) Taking a thrill ride.
B) Turning the car into cash
C) Taking stuff (like the GPS) and turning it into cash.

I'd argue that the "important tip" ain't.

Wow, tough crowd. :(

I'd argue that the "important tip" ain't.

I've edited the title so I don't upset anyone else tonight.

No. You called it "an important tip." Anyway, this sort of analysis is what you get when you post in the "travel tech" forum. Consider:
- Car thieves could also be house thieves, but that takes planning and time.
- As soon as you break into the car, the clock starts ticking. How long do you want to keep the car?

I'd argue that the "important tip" ain't.

I think this is a good tip.

Arguing these points, this is exactly why if a car thief finds a gps in the car they might go and burgle a home. The GPS makes it easy for them to navigate there, which reduces the time factor.

With insurance cards and registrations, etc, that assumes the thief can be bothered to read a map. WIth GPS, just plug in Home, and away you go. Big difference in my opinion.

Thanks for the tip!

So does this mean that you cannot your insurance or registration cards in the car? Often those have the address, and I know of people who have lost stuff this way as well.

Thief breaks into car, finds registration, assumes no one is home and travels to house (stealing garage door opener as well). This is a problem with or without nav.

In California, you are required to keep your registration with the vehicle and surrender it on demand (different debate) if a peace officer asks for it. If you didn't have it in the car, a thief would not know how to find your house.

Interesting, but narrow tip.

I dont keep my ins cards in my car. I keep them in my wallet. No one knows where I live if someone breaks into my car, and if my car is stolen, and is stopped by a police officer, there is no insurance cards in the vehicle. Now they could quickly figure out somthing is not right.

Most of you with a GPS system (handheld or in-car) will probably have your home address programmed in it.

Don't.

I've now read several reports that these systems are used when thieves steal the car and then just tell it to "go home". Most of the time if your car isn't home, neither are you, making it easier for them to break into your house as well and rob you. Especially if you have a garage door opener in the car....

First, thank you for looking out for your fellow FlyerTalk members.

FYI, the "home" button is not necessarily one's house. It could also be work or other important destination.

There is merit to what you say, but I suspect that when higher end cars (e.g., BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, etc.) with built-in GPS are stolen, the thieves are professional and have as their major interest the illegal acquisition of the vehicle. One nice additional plus on all of the above cars and several others is the ability to report the car stolen and have the GPS remotely activated to track the vehicle and report its movement to the police.

So, car thieves, feel free to bring my car back if I'm not here; there will be a warm welcome waiting for you. ;)

I agree...............a really tough crowd currently frequents Travel Technology. I will continue to leave my insurance card and auto registration in the car along with the garage door opener but will relabel "home" to be labeled "office" on the GPS. That will confuse any street-wise perp.

MisterNice

I'm not worried. My address does not exist in the GPS as it is a new building. "Home" is the address opposite our building.

SmilingBoy.

This is a smart and sensible tip. People are way too uptight these days.

I know of someone who had her car stolen, the thieves looked up her home address on the registration, and drove to the house, used the garage door opener, and stole a bunch of stuff.

I photo-chop my registration and insurance cards to leave no address on it. It takes 10 seconds and is worth the peace of mind.

I vaguely recall a story from a couple of years ago where an amateur car thief was caught because he had input the intersection where his girlfriend lived in the GPS of the stolen car then left the car after his joyride was over.

A quick Google doesn't show up anything for this sort of double robbery. However, there are quite a few cases of the reverse: someone breaks into a house, takes the car keys and steals the car in the driveway.

Really, this seems to be a stretch. There are three adults in my house, all keeping different schedules. There's actually very few times no one is home at all, so getting my address off my registration or GPS isn't going to help. In fact, I wish they would drive it to my house. First thing I'd do after calling the police would be to tell my roommates. They could see the car pull into the driveway and call the cops.

Taking the car right to where it's most likely to be spotted as stolen isn't that bright, in my opinion.

Great tip. Use the nearest intersection. ^

There was a prog on BBC3 (in the UK) called "the real hustle" where they show scams, tricks and thefts, one of the presenters posed as a parking garage attandant and told the first customer that it was valet parking. This bloke then handed over his keys and the presenter did excatly this, put the satnav on and hit the home location, saying that he now knew where the bloke lived, and that he wasn't home. (They give the stuff back once they have let the victim discover that they have been ripped off, and then ask if they can show it).

Isn't this tip right up there with the old urban legend about gang members driving around at night with no lights and shooting anyone who flashed them as an initiation???

As a longtime urban dweller who has suffered more than my fair share of car break-ins, I learned a long time ago to never leave anything remotely valuable in my car.

I thought it was a fairly sensible tip. Lots of people use "alternate" addresses for insurance and registration purposes anyway.

And lots of Flyertalkers don't actually live in a society where you are obliged to have valid i.d. in your car at all times. My car has no such information, not even a dealer book; although it does usually have my house keys chucked in the front cubby. Excellent tip, ScottC, albeit maybe not as much use for the USA-centric folks ;)

What about programming the address of the neighbour you hate the most?

;)

A really resourceful car thief/home burglar could check with his contact at the DMV and get a home address from the license plate. I don't think this GPS thing represents a real threat.

On the other hand - I do keep my papers locked in the glove compartment and only give the "valet" key to parking attendants. It opens the doors and turns the ignition, but won't open the glove box or trunk.

Color me "mildly paranoid" ;)

It's a good tip though I find it amusing that people would program home. Most of us know how to get home without a map :D

A better tip would be: don't leave it in the car. I know some of them are bulky but those who live in big cities know that you don't leave anything visible in your car or you will return to broken glass and missing property. Sadly many are lazy and learn the hard way. :eek:

The one thing we do leave visible is the infant seat. So far so good, though I don't want to temp fate ;)

Interesting scenario...the thief of my car drives to my home to breakin...now I can call the cops, have them arrested and my car is now returned.

It's a good tip though I find it amusing that people would program home. Most of us know how to get home without a map :D

A better tip would be: don't leave it in the car. I know some of them are bulky but those who live in big cities know that you don't leave anything visible in your car or you will return to broken glass and missing property. Sadly many are lazy and learn the hard way. :eek:

The one thing we do leave visible is the infant seat. So far so good, though I don't want to temp fate ;)

Removing mine would need major tools, as it's integrated.

I used to have the home address in it for when I was on long(er) trips and wanted my ETA (and the way home)...

What about programming the address of the neighbour you hate the most?

My GPS knows "Home" as the last place I held in the "Home" button for 10 seconds. Due to the vagaries of GPS, it is usually some address a few houses away, even if I'm parked in my driveway when I go through the exercise.

Still, I like the idea of keeping insurance and registration in my wallet rather then the glove box.

Due to the vagaries of GPS, it is usually some address a few houses away, even if I'm parked in my driveway...

Vagaries? My iPAQ GPS accurately shows whether I'm in the family room or the garage. I think you got stuck with a bum unit.

Vagaries? My iPAQ GPS accurately shows whether I'm in the family room or the garage. I think you got stuck with a bum unit.

You have differential GPS? :eek:

Just for grins you should program the address of the closest local Police station. :D

This is also a good idea. Imagine their surprise when they personally deliver themselves to jail. ;)

A quick Google doesn't show up anything for this sort of double robbery. However, there are quite a few cases of the reverse: someone breaks into a house, takes the car keys and steals the car in the driveway.

Really, this seems to be a stretch. There are three adults in my house, all keeping different schedules. There's actually very few times no one is home at all, so getting my address off my registration or GPS isn't going to help. In fact, I wish they would drive it to my house. First thing I'd do after calling the police would be to tell my roommates. They could see the car pull into the driveway and call the cops.

Taking the car right to where it's most likely to be spotted as stolen isn't that bright, in my opinion.

Google is great but there are a lot of things that do not show up on Google.

This is one of these stories where it happened to people I personally know.

I park my car at the airport, so I never leave anything with my address on it.

Chances are this is a slim risk, but if it costs nothing to prevent it, why not remove that risk?

It's one of those things that makes me sleep better in the hotel room because I don't have to worry that my car gives thieves clues about where I live.

Those who travel a lot and park at the airport long term parking are especially at risk, since thieves know that the owner is away on a trip.

A really resourceful car thief/home burglar could check with his contact at the DMV and get a home address from the license plate. I don't think this GPS thing represents a real threat.
..

How would said thief be able to check his/her contacts at the DMV? Even so, that would limit the thieve population who would have access to such info.

In any case, I use a P.O. box for my DMV registration, so even if they have my license plate they are not going to find my home.

You don't think the GPS thing represents a real threat? You'd be surprised... Most people never plan to be burglarized / victimized, until it's too late. Just because you think "such and such" doesn't mean it won't happen.

I park my car at the airport, so I never leave anything with my address on it.

That's an interesting point, seems like a good idea. I know a airport car park that has had multiple break-ins.

But I think TV and movies have made us all believe that crooks are masterminds, with far reaching plans. I used to tutor reading and math to guys in prison and most of them just did something dumb. Like, there's some food I'm walking past, think I'll grab it and eat it. Not like "OK. First, I'll observe the homeowner and record the comings and goings of the occupants...." Not that such a plan has never been hatched. But anytime I hear about crime that requires much forethought, I'm skeptical.

It's a good tip though I find it amusing that people would program home. Most of us know how to get home without a map :D



What's the big laugh? Many of "us" use the GPS when we go some place unfamiliar. Consequently, when we need to return, we push the "home" button.


A better tip would be: don't leave it in the car. I know some of them are bulky but those who live in big cities know that you don't leave anything visible in your car or you will return to broken glass and missing property. Sadly many are lazy and learn the hard way. :eek:

Lazy? Have you actually seen a factory-installed GPS unit? It would be easier to remove the steering wheel as it has less parts? Broken glass? Call your local police department and ask how many OEM GPS units get stolen from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc. It's easier to steal the entire car.

My GPS knows "Home" as the last place I held in the "Home" button for 10 seconds. Due to the vagaries of GPS, it is usually some address a few houses away, even if I'm parked in my driveway when I go through the exercise.



Quite possible. How many satellites are you getting? How old is the unit?

Vagaries? My iPAQ GPS accurately shows whether I'm in the family room or the garage. I think you got stuck with a bum unit.

Really? You get satellite reception trough the roof? And your garage and family room are in the map database? We are talking about automotive GPS here.

Vagaries? My iPAQ GPS accurately shows whether I'm in the family room or the garage. I think you got stuck with a bum unit.

I'm lost. Normal mapping software for street mapping certainly won't show you this sort of detail. My Nokia E61 + GPS puck + TomTom show my house to be about 20 metres away from where it actually is.

My BMW shows a similar disparity.

They both run Whereis mapping software.

What is your reference to determine where you are? Something like Google maps? (I'm not saying you're wrong, just keen to know)

(And sorry to let this run a touch OT but IMHO this is interesting)

I used to tutor reading and math to guys in prison and most of them just did something dumb.
The smart ones are still out there.

Really? You get satellite reception trough the roof? Yup. Between me and the sky are: one sheet rock, some fiberglass, 3/4" plywood, and two inches of foam. And your garage and family room are in the map database? The entire house (top view) is shown in Google Mobile Maps. At max zoom, the "spot" moves to the part of the house where I am, with an accuracy of about three feet. We are talking about automotive GPS here. It would seem that a $1,000 (and up) vehicle unit should be at least as good as a handheld. If it can't tell which house you're in front of, [pardon me, but I think] you got ripped off.

Normal mapping software for street mapping certainly won't show you this sort of detail. What is your reference to determine where you are?

At max zoom on Google Mobile Maps, my house almost fills the 240x240 screen. The "point" moves around the house with me. If you don't believe me, I'll post some screen shots. Microsoft Pocket Streets is just as good, but doesn't provide a satellite view of the house - although I can see exactly where I am at a street intersection, for example.

modern car thieves are using the steal and park, or steal and strip methods. Avoid a lojack arrest and/or just chop the car. Not really steal, find home address and then steal some more. GTA is one thing, B&E is another.