TTG Security Concerns

MarkHewitt · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject:

Theft from the car is something I've always been concerned about, not just the loss of the unit but more so the damage caused to the car!

I've never had a TTG but used to use TTNav with my PDA with a windscreen mount and wired GPS, I was always worried this was on very visible public display, even though I removed the PDA from the mount it was obvious there would be something in the car.

Now I use TomTom Mobile, I always take the phone with me anyway and the GPS fits in my pocket nicely. All that is left is a standard phone cradle and charger, no theif would be stupid enough to believe I would leave my phone in the car!

tals · Regular Visitor Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 66

yeah sorry if it came across that way - really just saying it's probably not as safe an option as you are hoping and you may end up with some serious car damage.

Dependant on how the insurance pays i'm seriously thinking of going the PDA route which is a far better size for taking with me than the Tom Tom Go and I love the Tom Tom Go Sad

Tals

Luffer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 02, 2005 Posts: 8

I live in Thames Valley and I am now unfortunately very familiar with car crime.

About three weeks before Xmas I took the family shopping and left my Vectra in a car park at Perivale Tube station, removing the faceplate from my stereo and locking it in the glove box.

Came back from shopping and found the hazard warning lights going. As I got closer I noted the side window had been smashed, and the glove box smashed open - needless to say the stereo was missing.

The car was deadlocked, so the scumbags had gone in through the window scratching the bodywork on the way in, cutting the interior door fabric with their boots, and had then got into the boot by almost ripping the back seats out.

Quote to repair the car was well in excess of £3k - all for a £200 at RSP stereo

The kids (9 and 3) were terrified on the way home in case they scumbags knew where we lived. (try explaining its a 'random' act.)

The Police didnt even investigate as there was no evidence. They did tell me taking the faceplate out was probably pointless, the missing faceplate indicates a high value item (As would a TT3 mount), so they will break in on the chance its hidden in the car. Even if its not they reckoned they would probably take the unit anyway as the scumbags will also do the rounds of local pubs nicking phones / faceplates etc that are in jacket pockets / left on tables - and seeing if they can match them up.

Im a company car driver and they also told me our local supermarket was a hot spot - newish cars driven by drivers in suits are targetted at lunchtimes - assuming they are business drivers with phones in the car or laptops in the boots

Then (totally unrelated) 23rd December some T@@t decided to torch the car when it was parked in the street. Again, police didnt investigate cos there where no witnesses and they think it was probably kids on a dare.

I now leave nothing in the car

tals · Regular Visitor Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 66

I pretty disappointed in the police handling of my case:

* no interest in looking through the CCTV footage because it was over 7 hours - did not give me the option todo this for them
* no interest in taking the details of the crime or visiting - despite "it being a week when they would visit every car crime". Appretiate they are busy but don't have a scheme you won't follow
* no interest at all in investigating dubious ebay sales - ebay will assist the police in any query they have

They (my home force not the crime area force) did a couple of other things - repeatadly sent the crime report to the wrong fax - eventually even accidentally faxing it to my mobile

Very worryingly Hampshire police appeared to indicate that stolen items are recorded on the hampshire database and won't appear in any other - I just have to be wrong here - are they really so far in the dark ages?

Unless the police can think small and get the small crimes the big crimes follow through.

Tals

Markie · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 01, 2004 Posts: 6

Unfortunately, most coppers are more interested in nicking you for doing 35 in a 30 zone than 'real' crime like getting your TTG stolen. Even 'if' the thieves are caught, what punishment do they get? What discentive do they get to not do it again. Not too much nowadays...

d-o-h · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 17, 2005 Posts: 1

I think an alternative security/protection method is needed here...

Passwords aren't really any use at all - they are generally either pre-coded (in which case the crooks will know them anyway) or are user entered (in which case the unit will need some kind of factory reset - again the crooks will know about that). Passwords for devices like this (as with mobile phones) are only any good as a deterrent to amateurs - the "professional" scum-bags will know how to get around them quickly and easily.

A better solution is something like http://www.myphonesafe.com. Unfortunately, however, a TTG cannot be "disabled" over the air as such. To do this would require new firmware and also for the scum-bag to connect to TomTom via the internet to do some kind of update - which they probably won't do.

This also has it's draw-backs. Is the serial number encoded into the devices firmware and non-eraseable/alterable? It doesn't show up on the Version Info screen, so I assume that the only reference to serial number is the sticker on the bottom of the device - which could be easily removed or altered.

The best bet for convenience and security is probably a combination of making available a list of stolen serial numbers and also advertising the fact that you DON'T leave these things in your car and that they're removed (sticker on the window for example). Ensuring the device stores it's own serial number permanently would also be useful.

Thoughts?

Oldboy · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:52 pm Post subject:

DriveBy · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:10 pm Post subject:

wez99 · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject:

I, like the rest of you, have deep reservations concerning the wisdom of using the suction mount, and whether to leave it in the car or not.
With this in mind I decided to buy a Brodit proclip (REnault Megane 11). This did not help the situation much, because as a 700 owner, I need the docking shoe for the handsfree functions.
I therefore started to think of a way to remove the TTG + Docking shoe easily & quickly. I now think I have achieved this. I have made the pattern, had a casting made, and machined it.
I tested the prototype and there is little or no vibration, can be removed in a couple of seconds, leaving only a small piece of black aluminium attached to the proclip. The proclip can of course be removed as well for total security.
I can post some pics if rquired, however I would like to refine the design and test it with a proclip for another vehicle (Fiesta Mk 5) to test the angles of tilt etc.

John
_________________
TomTomGo730

fatmanscoop · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject:

I own a laguna and would welcome some pics to view thi mount
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Garmin xt mobile
Nokia N96

Liverpool F.C rocks

Eldar · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:52 pm Post subject:

I've created a register for stolen GOs, might not be of much use, but at least there will be a record and I will make it searchable, so anybody will be able to check the unit they are buying second-hand against the database.

http://www.satnav-shop.com/index.php?ln=en&pg=9

tals · Regular Visitor Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 66

dill · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 05, 2005 Posts: 74

I think Eldar has got the right Idea.

tals · Regular Visitor Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 66

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