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Darren Frequent Visitor

Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:21 am Post subject: Thieves Turn To Bluetooth To Identify Cars Containing Satnav |
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Wiltshire Police are warning motorists to switch off their satnavs before leaving their car following a spate of thefts from cars.
Police believe that the crooks are using Bluetooth technology to identify cars which may have satnavs hidden inside.
Many modern satnavs use Bluetooth for handsfree connectivity with a mobile phone. A thief can use a Bluetooth equipped mobile phone to find devices in the vicinity broadcasting a Bluetooth signal.
Whilst switching off the device is one solution, our advice is never to leave your satnav or other high value equipment such as mobile phones, cameras etc in your vehicle when it's unattended.
Never leave anything on show, hide all the power leads and mounts, and pop your satnav in your pocket. Even a few coins in the centre console can temp a thief, don't be a victim.
_________________ Darren Griffin |
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andy-c1 Lifetime Member

Joined: Feb 05, 2005 Posts: 1039 Location: East Sussex
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:48 am Post subject: |
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It's not surprising this is happening as the amount of satnav's I see on show everyday is rather amazing. It does take long to take it off and stash it somewhere safe ..Turned off I might add ... I have even advised someone about it and their candid answer was naa it wont happen to me attitude so I left it at that _________________ TomTom 5001 |
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Vandam Lifetime Member

Joined: Nov 13, 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Gateshead
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:08 am Post subject: |
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I seen this on a tv progam a few months ago called Shameless where they were in a car park with the blue tooth swiched on their phone to locate which cars had laptops and other blue tooth devices in the boot, theives do watch these type of programs you know. _________________ Its only easy if you know the answer.
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TomTom 500 version 7.161 Map UK and IE WE
nuvi57LM |
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psyskiesman Lifetime Member
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Joined: Jun 22, 2004 Posts: 322 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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I know somebody who had their laptop stolen from the boot of his car. After informing the police, they checked CCTV in the vicinity and lo and behold they saw the culprits. They were holding something in their hands and walked slowly past a row of cars before stopping at my friend's car. IN ALL IT TOOK JUST 19 SECONDS FROM THEM STOPPING TO THEM RUNNING AWAY WITH THE LAPTOP! You have been warned! |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I don't understand...
I can imagine some laptops may be left in a "sleep" state by their owners where the BlueTooth may stil be active, but surely a Sat-Nav only transmits BT when it is powered up?
Who hides their Sat-Nav in the car but leaves it switched on? _________________ "Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man


Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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Andy_P wrote: | Who hides their Sat-Nav in the car but leaves it switched on? | Aparently enough people for Wiltshire police to spend public money warning people about  |
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psyskiesman Lifetime Member
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Joined: Jun 22, 2004 Posts: 322 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Apparently ALL computers are discoverable even though they are switched off; and with today's technology that would include laptops, mobile phones, and satnavs with sim card a la TomTom Live etc. |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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Afraid I don't believe a word of it!
My PC speakers are incredibly sensitive to the "biddly biddly" interference from mobile phone signals.
If I switch one of my TomToms on anywhere near the PC I'm deafened by the noise, but if I power the TomTom down (and on a TomTom that's not even fully 'off'), I hear nothing at all.
Think of all those laptops/phones/satnavs which have been taken on aeroplanes for the last decade or more.
If they were still transmitting BT or GSM signals while switched off, they would never be allowed on the plane. Also, they would never have passed the European emissions regulations and would not be allowed on sale. _________________ "Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man


Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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psyskiesman wrote: | Apparently ALL computers are discoverable even though they are switched off; and with today's technology that would include laptops, mobile phones, and satnavs with sim card a la TomTom Live etc. | How can devices be discoverable if they are switched off They need to transmit a BT signal to be discoverable. |
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peterc10 Frequent Visitor

Joined: Aug 21, 2005 Posts: 1761 Location: Kent, England
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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They are only discoverable with the very latest incredibly sophisticated equipment made by Apple - they call it the iBall. However it can be preventing from detecting by the iPad.
I'll get my hat _________________ Peter
HTC Sensation
Sygic GPS for Europe (No more TT "support"!)
Copilot for USA
Bury CC9060 bluetooth car kit & Brodit mount |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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psyskiesman wrote: | Apparently ALL computers are discoverable even though they are switched off; and with today's technology that would include laptops, mobile phones, and satnavs with sim card a la TomTom Live etc. |
My tomtom 740 is in the room above me and switched off. Can't discover it with my iPhone. Nor can I discover the BT car kit in my car outside.
I suspect a couple of people have left sat nav on in a parked car to save time and maybe on those occasions this trick has worked. Com one that with a misunderstanding on how the technology works and Presto!! Sensationalist media story!! |
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psyskiesman Lifetime Member
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Joined: Jun 22, 2004 Posts: 322 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Thieves use something called a scanner and it does pick up a signal from a switched OFF computer, as my friend's was when it was hidden under a coat in the boot of his car! I also had a 720T stolen from a parked car when it was hidden inside a holdall on the passenger seat. |
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peterc10 Frequent Visitor

Joined: Aug 21, 2005 Posts: 1761 Location: Kent, England
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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psyskiesman wrote: | Thieves use something called a scanner and it does pick up a signal from a switched OFF computer, as my friend's was when it was hidden under a coat in the boot of his car! I also had a 720T stolen from a parked car when it was hidden inside a holdall on the passenger seat. |
How exactly does this "scanner" work??? Magic pixies? Urban myth methinks
And they knicked yours and your mates gear because they broke in on the off chance. In your case it was more than an off chance - leave a holdall on the seat and that will always be an inviting target for thieves. And once they are in they will (surprise surprise) look under a coat and in a holdall. _________________ Peter
HTC Sensation
Sygic GPS for Europe (No more TT "support"!)
Copilot for USA
Bury CC9060 bluetooth car kit & Brodit mount |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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psyskiesman wrote: | Thieves use something called a scanner and it does pick up a signal from a switched OFF computer, as my friend's was when it was hidden under a coat in the boot of his car! I also had a 720T stolen from a parked car when it was hidden inside a holdall on the passenger seat. |
A "scanner"?? Hmmm. And what does this scan for? What signal is a switched OFF Device giving off??
Does it detect the zzzzzzzzzz given off by a sleeping device?
The fact that a device was hidden under a coat in a boot means nothing. The same person has probably broken into several cars and on some occasions found something and on others nothing to steal. Luck of the draw.
PS I wouldnt class anything in a holdal on a passenger seat as Hidden. Whilst the device might not be visible the thief probably thought it was worth the gamble the bag held something of value!! After all I wasn't his window he was breaking. |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man


Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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psyskiesman wrote: | I also had a 720T stolen from a parked car when it was hidden inside a holdall on the passenger seat | He was probably going for the holdall and hit the jackpot with the TT. Doesn't mean he had a 'scanner' to detect it.
Urban myth for the Myth Busters???? |
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