Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still target
cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen? Is it safe
enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping, or should
one put it in one's pocket or bag?

MM

On 17/11/2011 07:45, MM wrote:
> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still target
> cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen? Is it safe
> enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping, or should
> one put it in one's pocket or bag?
>
> MM
I would say it really depends on where you are parked, and for how long.
The sticker mark just shows there might be some things of value in the
car, not necessarily just the sat-nav. There are low lifes that will
break into anything given a clue.
It only takes the "wrong" decision once
Personally I still clean up and hide things if I'm out of sight of the
car for more tan a couple of minutes

On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:45:21 +0000, MM <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still target
> cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen? Is it safe
> enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping, or should
> one put it in one's pocket or bag?

Forget about where to store the sat nav and focus on how to disguise the
fact that you even use one. The cost and inconvenience of a broken window
dwarfs the minor cost or replacing the stolen GPS device, so even if you
foil an attempted theft by keeping the device in your pocket you still lose.

On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:12:07 +0000, "Anthony R. Gold"
<not-for-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:45:21 +0000, MM <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still target
>> cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen? Is it safe
>> enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping, or should
>> one put it in one's pocket or bag?
>
>Forget about where to store the sat nav and focus on how to disguise the
>fact that you even use one. The cost and inconvenience of a broken window
>dwarfs the minor cost or replacing the stolen GPS device, so even if you
>foil an attempted theft by keeping the device in your pocket you still lose.

One of the reasons why I decided against the Sendai disk, which would
remain on view.

MM

MM wrote:

> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still
> target cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen?

Dunno, havent heard any recent reports of that happening much.

Academic for me because I never stick it on the windscreen anyway.

> Is it safe enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping,

I actually put it down under the glove box with something on top
of it, but then my passengers seat and the passenger seat leg
space is filled with books, which I pick up from yard sales.

> or should one put it in one's pocket or bag?

I would just as a precaution if the windscreen makes it obvious that you have one.

On Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:24:20 +1100, "Rod Speed"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>MM wrote:
>
>> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still
>> target cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen?
>
>Dunno, havent heard any recent reports of that happening much.
>
>Academic for me because I never stick it on the windscreen anyway.
>
>> Is it safe enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping,
>
>I actually put it down under the glove box with something on top
>of it, but then my passengers seat and the passenger seat leg
>space is filled with books, which I pick up from yard sales.
>
>> or should one put it in one's pocket or bag?
>
>I would just as a precaution if the windscreen makes it obvious that you have one.

Maybe TT have changed the sucker, which is transparent on my brand-new
one. It doesn't leave a mark.

MM

MM wrote
> Anthony R. Gold <not-for-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> MM <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>>> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still
>>> target cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen?
>>> Is it safe enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while
>>> shopping, or should one put it in one's pocket or bag?

>> Forget about where to store the sat nav and focus on how
>> to disguise the fact that you even use one. The cost and
>> inconvenience of a broken window dwarfs the minor cost
>> or replacing the stolen GPS device, so even if you foil an
>> attempted theft by keeping the device in your pocket you still lose.

> One of the reasons why I decided against the Sendai disk, which would remain on view.

Yeah, now that you mention it I do leave the antislip mat on the dash all the time.

Havent had any breakins or attempts either, but then I dont leave the car in public
carparks very long, just while I shop for 20 mins at most, when they are pretty active.

I have had someone quite literally rip the back numberplate right off the car
when it was parked outside at home at night. Likely it was too dark to be
able to see the antislip mat on the dash, its the same color as the dash.

I must get into the habit of putting it in the glovebox.

MM wrote
> Rod Speed <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> MM wrote

>>> Now that sat navs are ubiquitous and cheap, do thieves still
>>> target cars with the telltale circle mark on the windscreen?

>> Dunno, havent heard any recent reports of that happening much.

>> Academic for me because I never stick it on the windscreen anyway.

>>> Is it safe enough to store the sat nav in the glove box while shopping,

>> I actually put it down under the glove box with something on top
>> of it, but then my passengers seat and the passenger seat leg
>> space is filled with books, which I pick up from yard sales.

>>> or should one put it in one's pocket or bag?

>> I would just as a precaution if the windscreen makes it obvious that you have one.

> Maybe TT have changed the sucker, which is transparent
> on my brand-new one. It doesn't leave a mark.

My much older one doesnt either. I assumed that its what some choose
to smear on it to improve the suction as it ages that leaves the mark.

Thats why I included the word IF in my comment. Bit to cryptically.