Own a GPS? Lock Your Car

According to some sources, between 20,000 and 30,000 GPS devices are stolen from vehicles each year. Thieves can get as much as $50.00 on the street for these devices.

One recent case involved a group of teenagers in Ohio. Streetsboro police responded to calls from residents on the night of August 4, 2013, reporting suspicious behavior in their neighborhood. Upon investigation, officers found an unknown car parked in a resident’s driveway . . . with four suspects hiding inside. Further investigation revealed stolen GPS navigation devices and other stolen electronic items in the car as well. Total value of the items was nearly $,1800.00.

What can the average citizen do to help prevent theft of his GPS device or other valuables from his car? Here are a few wise tips from law enforcement:

• First, keep your vehicle locked. Many of the items in the Ohio case mentioned above were stolen from vehicles left unlocked at night in a “safe” residential area. Lock your car every time you leave it—even if you’re leaving it only for a few minutes and even if it’s in your own driveway.


• Make sure your GPS device (or any other valuable item) is not visible when you leave your car. Remember, though, that if you hide the GPS itself but leave the mount or power cord still out in plain sight, thieves may still ransack the car for the device. They may do so even if the car is locked—in a “smash and grab” style of theft. And even though it may seem like overkill, wipe off any visible ring where the suction cup for the mount was affixed to the car’s glass. Even that detail is a sign to thieves that there’s likely to be a GPS device in the car.


• Make sure you have a record of your GPS device’s serial number. No, this won’t help prevent theft, but it is a good record to have in case your GPS is stolen. Having that number can help you give good information to police, can help with insurance claims, and may be helpful when it comes to replacing the device.

And, although it’s not a deterrent to keeping your GPS from being stolen, authorities advise you not to put your home address into your GPS under “Home.” Put an address near your home in that location instead. Otherwise, thieves can use your GPS to lead them right to your front door. Having your car burgled is one thing; having your house burgled as a result is another.

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Own a GPS? Lock Your Car