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We was robbed :(


MontyFam

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Posted (edited)

The MoFryFam of 6 packed up the minivan for a weekend road trip 4 hours away for a family reunion and some geocaching to Wallaceburg Ontario. Loaded up the PQ into the Garmin 60Cx and packed up the kiddies with all the travel neccessities. (ipods, DSs, lego, books etc. etc.) Our first night at the hotel our van was broken into.

These scumbags hit the jackpot! Doors were all locked when we hit the sack. In the morning nothing was broken but the driver window had been opened a quarter inch... strange... all doors unlocked, even the back hatch door. We're guessing what promted them was the dashmounted Nuvi 255W, which, yes we should have removed from the dash when parked in a parking lot over night. Everything else was in the console, glove box, under seats etc. (out of plain view and behind tinted windows).

You don't realize how much stuff you have in a vehicle until it's gone! These punks took EVERYTHING! Luckily we brought the DSLR camera and most of the iPods into the hotel, but we lost:

Blackberry, iPod, Zune, DSi, DSiXL, LeapFrog, Auto GPS, Handheld GPS, Digicam, All the chargers and adapters, loose change, CDs, Sunglasses, Timmies gift card, OUR ENTIRE FULLY STOCKED GEOCACHING BAG, 3 out of 6 full bottles of water and a few tampons :blink::blink:

The sad part is that the $3,000 yes $3,000 worth of OUR STUFF will likely be traded for about a hundred bucks worth of drugs. SAD!

Kids were pretty upset but remained strong and realize that THINGS can be replaced and our family was not physically harmed and our minivan was unharmed.

Police have our list and some serial #s but we're not expecting to see anything returned to us. Our first purchase Saturday morning? A Garmin GPSMap 62S. Addicted to caching or what? Now to rebuild the geocaching bag and all of the kids' electronics and re-stock the emergency tampon stash... or should that have been the first purchase? LOL

 

Our learnings

1 The obvious - don't leave your GPS in plain view

2 Don't leave so much stuff in the vehicle, even if it is a hassle to remember all of the little things (which all add up to big $)

3 Some robbers get thirsty and need to remember to pick up something for their wife while out

 

I hope this doesn't happen to any other fellow geocachers.

 

Mike

 

edited for spelling

Edited by MoFryFam
Posted

Awwww.... I'm so sorry this happened to you! I've had my home get broken into once when I lived in downtown Eugene, and I know the violated weird feeling that you get when this happens, plus the monetary loss when you have to replace things like computers and phones. Ick.

 

I agree with you about removing things from your dash. Sometimes even on quick cache runs if I know I'm going to be away from my car for a while, I hide things in the glove and under the seats, or in the back where I have tinted windows for safety. Unfortunately though, the only time I've ever had a car broken into was when there was nothing in it (really?).

 

Hopefully you can recoup your losses soon, and that this NEVER happens again to you.

Posted

I've been very lucky so far, I've never had my car broken into. I do make it a point to either take my valuables with me or hide them really well whenever I leave the car, even when I'm out in the country "in the middle of nowhere." My girlfriend thinks it's a bit amusing when I lock my car in remote locations, but I was raised in a not-always-safe neighborhood, and old habits die hard.

 

In this area, thieves have learned to look for the suction cup marks that are left on the windshield or console when a driver takes down their GPS or radar unit, in the hope that they've stashed it under a seat or in the glove compartment. There has been a nasty rash of car break-ins in a suburb just north of mine and a lot of GPS units stolen recently.

 

--Larry

Posted

My girlfriend thinks it's a bit amusing when I lock my car in remote locations, but I was raised in a not-always-safe neighborhood, and old habits die hard.

 

I do it too... and I grew up out in the country. Heh. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

In this area, thieves have learned to look for the suction cup marks that are left on the windshield or console when a driver takes down their GPS or radar unit, in the hope that they've stashed it under a seat or in the glove compartment. There has been a nasty rash of car break-ins in a suburb just north of mine and a lot of GPS units stolen recently.

 

I have often wondered about that. My old Nuvi used to have this disk that stuck to the dash, to attach the suction cup to and when I removed the Nuvi from the car the disk remained, and I always wondered if that was a cue to thieves. My current car GPS sticks to the windshield, and leaves a really light suction cup mark... hmm. Something to think about. Thanks for bringing that up.

Posted (edited)

Hey northernpenguin. I had a bunch of your caches in the GPSr but wasn't able to hit them on the way home :( Maybe next time. I like the humour in the license plate one ;) As we drove by I told the story to the kids and said the cache is probably right over there... Oh and I like that they took down the hockey rink. Those scumbags deserve a dirt patch to play in not a boarded/fenced/lighted/seated hockey rink!

Edited by MoFryFam
Posted

The MoFryFam of 6 packed up the minivan for a weekend road trip 4 hours away for a family reunion and some geocaching to Wallaceberg Ontario. Loaded up the PQ into the Garmin 60Cx and packed up the kiddies with all the travel neccessities. (ipods, DSs, lego, books etc. etc.) Our first night at the hotel our van was broken into.

These scumbags hit the jackpot! Doors were all locked when we hit the sack. In the morning nothing was broken but the driver window had been opened a quarter inch... strange... all doors unlocked, even the back hatch door. We're guessing what promted them was the dashmounted Nuvi 255W, which, yes we should have removed from the dash when parked in a parking lot over night. Everything else was in the console, glove box, under seats etc. (out of plain view and behind tinted windows).

You don't realize how much stuff you have in a vehicle until it's gone! These punks took EVERYTHING! Luckily we brought the DSLR camera and most of the iPods into the hotel, but we lost:

Blackberry, iPod, Zune, DSi, DSiXL, LeapFrog, Auto GPS, Handheld GPS, Digicam, All the chargers and adapters, loose change, CDs, Sunglasses, Timmies gift card, OUR ENTIRE FULLY STOCKED GEOCACHING BAG, 3 out of 6 full bottles of water and a few tampons :blink::blink:

The sad part is that the $3,000 yes $3,000 worth of OUR STUFF will likely be traded for about a hundred bucks worth of drugs. SAD!

Kids were pretty upset but remained strong and realize that THINGS can be replaced and our family was not physically harmed and our minivan was unharmed.

Police have our list and some serial #s but we're not expecting to see anything returned to us. Our first purchase Saturday morning? A Garmin GPSMap 62S. Addicted to caching or what? Now to rebuild the geocaching bag and all of the kids' electronics and re-stock the emergency tampon stash... or should that have been the first purchase? LOL

 

Our learnings

1 The obvious - don't leave your GPS in plain view

2 Don't leave so much stuff in the vehicle, even if it is a hassle to remember all of the little things (which all add up to big $)

3 Some robbers get thirsty and need to remember to pick up something for their wife while out

 

I hope this doesn't happen to any other fellow geocachers.

 

Mike

 

I think before anything, Rule number one would be:

 

1) Don't leave ANYTHING in plain view when in Wallaceburg.

 

I'm from Wallaceburg. Born and raised actually! This is not uncommon, you're just lucky the whole van wasn't stolen and set on fire. Two of my family's cars has had that happened to them as well as one of my friend's.

Posted

Wow, that really stinks. You might be able to track the thieves with the stolen gift card. See if you have the receipt, or they might be able to track it simply with your credit card #'s. I've seen it work, thief was caught red handed! :anibad:

In this area, thieves have learned to look for the suction cup marks that are left on the windshield or console when a driver takes down their GPS or radar unit, in the hope that they've stashed it under a seat or in the glove compartment. There has been a nasty rash of car break-ins in a suburb just north of mine and a lot of GPS units stolen recently.
I have often wondered about that. My old Nuvi used to have this disk that stuck to the dash, to attach the suction cup to and when I removed the Nuvi from the car the disk remained, and I always wondered if that was a cue to thieves. My current car GPS sticks to the windshield, and leaves a really light suction cup mark... hmm. Something to think about. Thanks for bringing that up.
This is one of the reasons I like my "beanbag" dash mount. It also moves from car to car much more quickly.

garmin_friction_mount_2.jpg

Posted (edited)

I like the bean bag option but does it slide around and tip over often?

MoonCat thanks for the advice for future trips. If you see anything in the local hock shop please let us know ;)

Edited by MoFryFam
Posted

They took the Timmies gift card? Those bastiches! :mad:

 

Seriously, I'm saddened to hear that this happened to you on a family caching outing. But the bright spot is that the kids seem to be very well raised and adjusted if they get the difference between STUFF and PERSON. Nice job there.

Posted (edited)

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

Edited by ao318
Posted (edited)

more good advice ao318. We had our home address in the GPSr. The first thing I did was call my parents and ask them to keep an eye out for us as they live close, especially cause we were 4 hours from home. You never know how connected these scumbags can be... In the new GPS the home address will be the neighbour across the road who is a cop! no not fair to him... I'll use the Timmies around the corner ;)

 

Edit to add:

The Timmies card was a gift paid for with cash and no trace of a serial #. That would be quite a way to catch the scum though!

Edited by MoFryFam
Posted

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

I don't have a garage, so after the thief drives to my house, he's going to have to break in just like everybody else. And he better bring a gun, because if he breaks into my house without one, he's in for a world of hurt.

Posted

That is Too bad. The good thing...

Karma is a Bi#*H, and those scumbags will get what is coming.

I wish horrible pain on them.

 

Wow.. what's worse, being a thief or wishing physical harm on someone.

Posted

No guns in our house but I do have a Lousville slugger that I haven't had the pleasure of swinging in a while. It also doesn't hurt to be 6'1" 250 with the protective instinct of a Lion or Bear. ;)

Posted

My girlfriend thinks it's a bit amusing when I lock my car in remote locations, but I was raised in a not-always-safe neighborhood, and old habits die hard.

 

I do it too... and I grew up out in the country. Heh. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

In this area, thieves have learned to look for the suction cup marks that are left on the windshield or console when a driver takes down their GPS or radar unit, in the hope that they've stashed it under a seat or in the glove compartment. There has been a nasty rash of car break-ins in a suburb just north of mine and a lot of GPS units stolen recently.

 

I have often wondered about that. My old Nuvi used to have this disk that stuck to the dash, to attach the suction cup to and when I removed the Nuvi from the car the disk remained, and I always wondered if that was a cue to thieves. My current car GPS sticks to the windshield, and leaves a really light suction cup mark... hmm. Something to think about. Thanks for bringing that up.

My Nuvi manual even stated to wipe the ring off the windshield.

 

I have my window broken out and Nuvi stolen on Thanksgiving day a couple of years back. Really sucks, I'll tell you. In my case, I left the Nuvi in plain view while I went after a cache in a very upscale neighborhood, thinking that it was a safe area. But in hindsight, that it was an upscale neighborhood was probably why the theives were cruising that area.

Posted

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

I'm glad you have the means to replace the things. Many people do not these days.

 

My car was recently broken into. It was because the blanket behind my seat looked like it covered something (most likely). They took nothing. Very strange.

So another tip is don't leave anything looking like it might be covering something. Except of course, unless there really is something to cover. Better to leave nothing in your car, but if you absolutely have to then cover it. Better to leave doubt than give them good cause.

 

I also strongly believe in karma. I don't have to wish anything on anyone. I believe people get back what they dish out. Not that that's going to get any of your stuff replaced.

 

Blessings to your family.

Posted

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

Not to be argumentative, but my name and address are on my GPS unit and they will remain there. I'm listed in the white pages of the old-fashioned telephone directory (which is also available on-line), and by law my home address, home description including number of bathrooms and bedrooms, and a photo of the front of my house are all available to anyone who cares on the Franklin County, Ohio, Auditor's Web site. All you need is my full name, which I don't make any attempt to keep secret, and you'll know everything that's included on the splash screen of my GPS unit.

 

And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.

 

--Larry

Posted

Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

The most i keep in my car is my car chargers for my devices, an FM transmitter that never worked to well, and the cassette adapter that replaced it. The only other thing that may be worth stealing is my 1 tun hydrolic jack but that only cost me $20. I don't mind leaving my nuvi dash mount in the window cause i don't leave anything worth stealing in the car. Plus i keep the doors unlocked most of the time anyway. Drives the wife nuts but i figure if someone wants what is seen in the vehicle so much they can have it and i don't have to replace a window. My car isn't even worth steeling unless its some teens looking for a joy ride. Its a 2000 but hard to find parts for and they didn't sell many of them to start with. So on the parts market my car is crap.

 

If my GPSr where to get stolen my home address isn't an address. Its the lat and long of the nearest intersection. If i can't find my way home from there then i have problems.

Posted

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

 

Which is why I have this picture as the startup picture on my Nuvi:

 

pitbull2.jpg

 

Seriously... I have my home address set, but I just store it as one of many favorites, and I don't call it "Home".

Posted (edited)

I have had things taken from my house and car before -- personal items, tools that were taken at a time when I was least able to replace them, and more recently a hand held gpsr -- so I know that it is not just the property. It feels like something fundamental has been violated, which it has. As a technical matter, it is not robbery, but it is hurtful.

 

I have encountered relatively honest thieves, who broke into our van to get a radio, but left a dollar bill that was sitting in plain sight on the car seat. I have encountered malicious thieves, who cut the engine wires in the back of another van when we were gone for the weekend. And a Japanese Buddhist nun that I know was recently robbed (in the technical sense) when she got out of a car in the driveway of the house where she was staying -- talk about karma with that one.

 

But I have also met people who could have taken things (like an iphone dropped at a trailhead) but did not. Another person who returned an item to my wife that was taken at a gym after she explained how important it was to her. And a deputy sheriff who tried one of the most creative approaches to one of the incidents described above, that almost made up for the loss even if it did not work -- leaving a note for them that he would trade our stuff for some marijuana he found growing on their property.

 

I now live in an area where I do not always have to lock my doors and can sometimes forget to lock the car at a trail head. And I am at a point in my life where I can replace things. But when something happens it is painful for reasons that have little to do with the property. So I am glad that the items can be replaced -- the 62s you got is a nice gpsr -- and I wish you well in the future.

Edited by mulvaney
Posted
And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.
One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a break in!

 

This is especially important if you use a garage door opener. They can roll right in & load up without anyone the wiser, not to mention many don't leave the door between the garage and house locked, so they don't even have to break a window.

Posted (edited)

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

 

This again. There is no reason to believe that the thief knowing the location of the house belonging to the person whose GPS they just stole will attract that thief to the house to inflict further harm. If a thief wants to rob a house they will pick your house for reasons unrelated to your GPS. There are other ways tottally unrelated to your GPS unit that a person could find out where you live if they wanted to- among them following you from a distance as you drive home. Or just driving by your house and deciding that yours looks ripe for the picking/worth the risk.

 

My wife's GPS was stolen while her van was parked at her friends house. Her van was one of about 35 that were hit in the same area on the same night. If they had wanted to try and rob a house they would have. They broke into 35 cars because cars aren't usually full of people or large dogs and it's easy enough to smash, grab and run as opposed to getting into a house and then looking for things to steal while in the dark.

Edited by Castle Mischief
Posted

One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a break in!

So what? My home is locked up and well-secured (see below).

 

This is especially important if you use a garage door opener. They can roll right in & load up without anyone the wiser, not to mention many don't leave the door between the garage and house locked, so they don't even have to break a window.

Yes, I use a garage door opener, and it's in my car. Just like most garage door openers. And that would allow them to gain entry to my garage. In which the most valuable item, by design, is my bicycle. If they're that desperate, they can have it. The door from my garage to the rest of my house is locked with the same secure dead bolt lock design as is the front door of my house. This is also by design.

 

--Larry

Posted
And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.
One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a break in!

 

This is especially important if you use a garage door opener. They can roll right in & load up without anyone the wiser, not to mention many don't leave the door between the garage and house locked, so they don't even have to break a window.

 

I think you're giving meth heads looking for a quick $10 too much credit. They got what they wanted- the GPS unit.

Posted
And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.
One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a

They don't know that the house is empty, just because my car was away from home. What about my pitbull, or my 300 pound ex-Green Beret roommate? They don't know that I don't have a house alarm. They don't know that I have anything worth stealing. Nawww... I suspect that it has been done, but I seriously doubt that its the problem that its made out to be.

 

Snopes seems to agree with me... Partly True.

Posted
And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.
One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a break in!

 

This is especially important if you use a garage door opener. They can roll right in & load up without anyone the wiser, not to mention many don't leave the door between the garage and house locked, so they don't even have to break a window.

 

I think you're giving meth heads looking for a quick $10 too much credit. They got what they wanted- the GPS unit.

+1

 

I will continue to display my home address and phone number on the splash screen of my GPS unit, on the chance that a good citizen, as opposed to a meth head, is the one that finds it. That way, there's also a chance that the unit, which includes maps I paid good money for, will be eventually returned to me.

 

That is a much more likely scenario than that of someone breaking into my car; stealing my GPS unit (which I'll more likely have on my person, anyway....); dashing to the address they find on the splash screen (assuming they quickly figure out how to turn the thing on, and pay attention to the splash screen while simultaneously fleeing the scene of the crime...), and arriving at my home in time to break in through my garage and the dead-bolt-lock protected door and burgling my house before I can get back home. :ph34r:

 

--Larry

Posted
And so what? What good would it do someone to have my home address anyway? How is this any more dangerous than the fact they can just drive down my street and decide to break in at random? There's nothing about me or my location that makes me or my home any more of a target than my next door neighbor or the guy across town from me. My home address is no more valuable to a thief than the home address of any other person.
One reason: They know exactly where you are: NOT at your house to report a break in!

 

 

FAIL! Just because my car/gps is not at my house, that doesn't mean that NO ONE is at my house.

Posted

Ha. I too have had tampons stolen from my car! I left the bag which consisted of a tampons, lipgloss, a comb, and some kleenex on my passenger seat. They apparently thought it was a purse. Luckily for me they missed the bag in the back that had my laptop, cash, and smart phone in it! Sorry about your stuff, glad everyone is safe!

Posted

This is a true story about a guy name Phil. I worked with Phil. He had a pick-up truck that he was real proud of. He liked to put toys on his pick-up. He had extra keys made for his pick-up. The guy that made the keys sold him these nifty plastic keys that looked like a credit card. Phil kept the plastic keys in his wallet. Phil went to the beach one day and lost his wallet. That night,at like 3am, Phil heard his truck start in his driveway. He got to his window just in time to see his truck vanish into the night.

Posted

Ha. I too have had tampons stolen from my car! I left the bag which consisted of a tampons, lipgloss, a comb, and some kleenex on my passenger seat. They apparently thought it was a purse. Luckily for me they missed the bag in the back that had my laptop, cash, and smart phone in it! Sorry about your stuff, glad everyone is safe!

Most likely robbed by a Transvestite <_<

 

Sorry about your mishap! I hope the employees at the Timmys they go to spit in their coffee :lol:

Posted

i'll remember this the next time i have to park at a motel and haul two camera bags, tripod, laptop, go bag, electronics bag (chargers, gps, phone etc)purse and pillow up two flights of stairs to my room complaining to myself the whole time how heavy it all is.

 

rsg

Posted

i'll remember this the next time i have to park at a motel and haul two camera bags, tripod, laptop, go bag, electronics bag (chargers, gps, phone etc)purse and pillow up two flights of stairs to my room complaining to myself the whole time how heavy it all is.

It's a royal PITA to have to haul all your camera and GPS gear to your room when on the road, but I've gotten in the habit of doing that. I never leave anything valuable in the car when parking in a parking lot. It's just too obvious a target for thieves. I'm lucky in that I've never had my car broken into, but friends haven't been so lucky, and I don't want to go through what they went through.

 

--Larry

Posted
I will continue to display my home address and phone number on the splash screen of my GPS unit, on the chance that a good citizen, as opposed to a meth head, is the one that finds it. That way, there's also a chance that the unit, which includes maps I paid good money for, will be eventually returned to me. =

 

Agreed. Besides, what's the big deal if your address is listed in your GPS unit anyway? If the thief wants to target your house, all they need to do is look at the registration which almost everyone leaves in their car anyway.

Posted (edited)

We have a bean bag mount which never slides. I also have mounts for the scanner/iPod Touch and my auto GPS on the windshield. Never thought of those tempting someone until I read this thread. It is a good point.

The only car I have owned that was broken into was my Chevy Cavalier...the prize? Less than $5 in change. It cost more to replace the smashed passenger window. The car was parked in a city parkade, patrolled by security who actually walked me to my car that night. I have never left loose change in sight in any subsequent car.

I was so pi ticked off, it was a good job the thief wasn't close by...or they'd have had one heck of an earache....

Edited by popokiiti
Posted

Actually, I'd forgotten all about one unfortunate incident a long time ago. It wasn't exactly a car break-in. I'd accidentally left my car unlocked in my apartment complex parking lot overnight. Someone snuck into the car and took a fistful of pocket change I'd left in the center console. There was no damage, they just opened the car door and grabbed the coins. I figured it was one or more of the kids who had walked to their school bus earlier. I still felt a bit violated.

 

--Larry

Posted

Here is just a tip for those that have Auto GPSr's or utilize their hand held for driving. DO NOT put your address in the unit and mark it as home. Thieves will take the unit and look for the "Home" waypoint. All this does is allow them the opportunity to find your house and possibly rob it also. This holds especially true for your vehicles GPSr.

 

Just think if a thief steals your car, you have a great GPSr in there that will direct the thief to your home, where they now have your car and your garage door opener. They then enter the home via the garage, load up the goodies, and drive away with all of your stuff and your neighbors are none the wiser because it was your car that drove into the garage.

 

Just be careful what you store on your GPSr's.

 

Edited for spelling

 

Yes..I was going to post this too. I have my "Home" entered close enough to give me a good route if I am somewhere that I need some help, but the actual location takes them right to the local police.

Posted

MoFryFam... was any of that covered by either your home or your auto insurance?

 

When I had my window busted out and my Nuvi stolen, my auto insurance covered the glass replacement (althought I learned recently when shopping around for insurance that it has raised my risk, and thus my rate!!) but the GPS was not covered by either insurance. I had to eat that one.

Posted

I'm on vacation right now, and 2 nights ago we had to stay in a hotel for the night. We brought everything into the hotel room except our raincoats. Better safe than sorry.

Posted

I can sympathize with you, having my own car broken into last year.. What's sad, is most of the time,the police never do recover items stolen.. I'm out a NuVi 205, which I left stuck to the windshield of my car, in my driveway.. They took the Nuvi, the mount, a charger cord for a Microsoft Zune Player, and almost made off with the player, except dropped it and a battery powered speaker pack it was in, in the snow.. (I happened to find it where they dropped it when the snow melted.)

 

On the bright side, the person must be going bonkers every time they step outside a 5-mile radius to my home.. and stay within a 200-mile radius. Because I had it programmed with a variance of PilotSnipe's NuVi waypoint builder for GSAK, and given a new sound effect of when it detected a cache within 1/2 a mile. What's fun, unless the bumbling crook knows the right software, It can't be removed! So they;lll either have to put up with little cache drawings all over their map, as well unless they turn off the sound, be slowly driven mad by the constant "Whammy" sound. (shortened the 'WiFi Detected' sound from Windows.).. If it picks up a few in the area, It would even blast the "Turn Left in 20 WHHHMMM!! WHHHHMMM!!"

 

I ended-up replacing it.. and I have it mounted on a beanbag mount like someone above mentioned.

Posted
I will continue to display my home address and phone number on the splash screen of my GPS unit, on the chance that a good citizen, as opposed to a meth head, is the one that finds it. That way, there's also a chance that the unit, which includes maps I paid good money for, will be eventually returned to me. =

 

Agreed. Besides, what's the big deal if your address is listed in your GPS unit anyway? If the thief wants to target your house, all they need to do is look at the registration which almost everyone leaves in their car anyway.

 

Or, for non automotive GPS units, or the newer automotive ones they could just follow the tracklog back to where all the lines bunch meet up.....

Posted

i'll remember this the next time i have to park at a motel and haul two camera bags, tripod, laptop, go bag, electronics bag (chargers, gps, phone etc)purse and pillow up two flights of stairs to my room complaining to myself the whole time how heavy it all is.

It's a royal PITA to have to haul all your camera and GPS gear to your room when on the road, but I've gotten in the habit of doing that. I never leave anything valuable in the car when parking in a parking lot. It's just too obvious a target for thieves. I'm lucky in that I've never had my car broken into, but friends haven't been so lucky, and I don't want to go through what they went through.

 

--Larry

 

i did have the stereo stolen out of my car when it was parked about a block from my house. the thieves were very considerate. they broke a small back window and cut the wires of the stereo quite neatly instead of just ripping them out.

 

i was burgled twice - in four days by the same guys. much of that stuff was recovered when the cops went on a drug bust.

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