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The Kitchen Table

Privacy Safety with A GPS

17 years ago

I recently received a portable GPS as an early Christmas gift.

Thieves scout out the cars with them, and break in and steal them. If you do have a portable one, make sure you take it with you or lock it into your glovebox. Remove any signs.....the little window sticky thing it sits into.

Beyond that, please don't put your actual Home address in. Use a mall, or somewhere that's familiar, without your actual home being recorded.

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Comments (8)

kacram
17 years ago
you can buy a bean bag weighted thingymabob that sits on your dash.. no adhesive needed. Easy to grab and stow it all away
sue36
17 years ago
Your home address is on your auto registration, if someone breaks into your car they can get your address that way. And in my case they can use the garage door opener to walk right into the house. I prefer not to worry about this stuff. But I do agree about hiding valuables in your car, no reason to put out an invitation to have your vehicle broken into (says the woman whose husband left golf clubs in clear sight, resulting in his vehicle being broken into).
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lynn_d
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We have one of the sandbag type thingies and it gets put on the floor when we park the car. My home address is stored in it but even without it I am sure they would find a bill or letter, my insurance card or something with my address on it in the card. My owner's card is in my wallet but there is plenty of other things for them to find my home.
missindia2020
17 years ago
That's what we have- sandbag thing... We have a carrying case to put it in and take in our purse/pocket. We took ours with us to San Diego. It was a lifesaver!
cynic
17 years ago
Not to duplicate what I said in the other thread about security and the like but the suction cup things are a telltale sign, even when you remove it, there's usually the ring on there so thieves know you have one and often people just put them under the seat so it's worth breaking in to see. And if not there and they have time they'll often pop the trunk. Especially easy on cars with remote trunk releases. No pry bar required.
joyfulguy
17 years ago
The more stuff that we get ...

... the more there is to worry about.

o j
Jasdip
Original Author
17 years ago
I think the important thing about my post is not to put your address in the unit. I don't have any documentation in my car at all with my addy on. I keep everything in my purse.

I have the sand-baggie thing as well. We've yet to use it, 'cause so far we've been together when we needed the GPS, and I play around with it, and hold it, instead of having it on the dash. And gets thrown into the glove-compartment when we leave the car.

These, XM radios and cellphones....there is always something out in the open for thieves to steal.
gemini40
17 years ago
I was told by many people in law enforcement..NEVER leave your registration in your car.Why would you do that..think about it..you are giving the theif access to your home address , and the proper paperwork if stopped by police. Don't leave mail, or anything that contains info as to who , the owner of the vehicle is.

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