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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Help would be appreciated...
Hi, not sure where else to put this, so I'm guessing in this board, since it relates to GPS theft. I'm a design student doing some research on portable sat-nav systems for cars, specifically the TomTom.
After this holiday ends, I'm going to start a project in my design class, where my objective is to design and make (either a protoype or real thing) an alternative TomTom holder so that it does not attach to the windscreen and leave the marks that can lead to it getting stolen.
Anything anyone can think of that would help me would be greatly appreciated, such as useful sites or statistics, ideas for other places in the car I could design the attachment for, and so on.
Or even stories of your own cars being broken in to as a result of those marks or the holder being visible in your windscreen.
I'm also going to be getting in touch with my local police during this project, but I need quite a bit of background research on the issue before I start making any phone calls.
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Help would be appreciated...
francalondon wrote:
Hi, not sure where else to put this, so I'm guessing in this board, since it relates to GPS theft. I'm a design student doing some research on portable sat-nav systems for cars, specifically the TomTom.
After this holiday ends, I'm going to start a project in my design class, where my objective is to design and make (either a protoype or real thing) an alternative TomTom holder so that it does not attach to the windscreen and leave the marks that can lead to it getting stolen.
Anything anyone can think of that would help me would be greatly appreciated, such as useful sites or statistics, ideas for other places in the car I could design the attachment for, and so on.
Or even stories of your own cars being broken in to as a result of those marks or the holder being visible in your windscreen.
I'm also going to be getting in touch with my local police during this project, but I need quite a bit of background research on the issue before I start making any phone calls.
Thanks
Try looking in Maplin Electronics etc., for alternative mounts
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:58 am Post subject:
I have moved this thread to an area where it should get more views/ comments.
You could have a look at the Brodit range as the type of mount you are talking about does exist with a very extensive array of products covered, the list of vehicle adaptors/ clips must cover nearly every car ever built!
I recently modified the 720 mount to free up space on the windscreen - see Here - Mike
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: Relates to GPS theft.
As this thread was started by the concern about satnav theft.
I heard a report on Radio 4's P.M. programme yesterday about the epidemic of satnav thefts Do have a listen, it has some good advice at the end of the report
A crucial thing is not to set your home address to your home, because someone on holiday had their satnav stolen. The thieves then navigated their way straight to the front door and stole another car worth £20,000
So my suggestion is, set your home address to a nearby road, and if your system has an option for pin code activation, use it Although I'm not sure if clever thieves with technical know-how can get round this
The most obvious thing with portable systems is to remove it and the mount and cigarette lighter power adaptor, Either locking them in the boot or taking them with you
Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:03 am Post subject:
Quote:
A crucial thing is not to set your home address to your home, because someone on holiday had their satnav stolen. The thieves then navigated their way straight to the front door and stole another car worth £20,000
Personally i've always suspected this is a paranoid myth. A few years ago a "scam" was doing the rounds where a scam survey would ring you at work. One of the questions would be "what is your address and postcode so we can send you a prize for participating"? As soon as you gave it to them a man with a van would drive to your house and rob it. It was of course a myth. See CLICK HERE
One problem with both myths is that would a burglar really drive miles to your home on the off chance that no-one was around? Just because you are away from home with a sat nav doesn't mean the house is empty / brimming with jewellery waiting to be stolen. The time would be better spent casing a more local home.
A crucial thing is not to set your home address to your home, because someone on holiday had their satnav stolen. The thieves then navigated their way straight to the front door and stole another car worth £20,000
Personally i've always suspected this is a paranoid myth. A few years ago a "scam" was doing the rounds where a scam survey would ring you at work. One of the questions would be "what is your address and postcode so we can send you a prize for participating"? As soon as you gave it to them a man with a van would drive to your house and rob it. It was of course a myth. See CLICK HERE
One problem with both myths is that would a burglar really drive miles to your home on the off chance that no-one was around? Just because you are away from home with a sat nav doesn't mean the house is empty / brimming with jewellery waiting to be stolen. The time would be better spent casing a more local home.
Well in this case it happened and if they saw a family get out of the car, they made a good assumption
Remember thieves are not as dumb as we might think It is a fact that they target pinic/beauty spots, places where people park for outdoor activities etc., knowing that cars will be easy prey
Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:43 am Post subject:
Quote:
Well in this case it happened and if they saw a family get out of the car, they made a good assumption
Maybe it's happened once, but i don't think it's worth worrying about. What if they assumed wrong and there were people still at home? They might have travelled 50, 100 or 200 miles to go to a house and find it occupied at all times. Someone might be "sitting" the house with the family dog(s).....
As i said easier pickings round the corner....
Anyway this is besides the point. If no-one left their sat nav in their car - no matter how well hidden - then it's not a problem.
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Do have a listen, it has some good advice at the end of the report 
