Wouldn't it be nice if the GPS companies could track these devices when they get stolen so they can be returned to their rightful owners?

Dave

Hi Tyler,
Re your article on the rising number of GPS thefts, I think I have a solution – at least one that works so far for me. I’ll briefly describe it, but you can see a photo I posted at http://tinyurl.com/2qbzen which illustrates it better. (Look below the GPS picture and find the row of customer images. Mine is the one with the word “notes” below it.)

I decided I did not want the Maestro unit stuck to the windshield, nor did I like the look of it setting on top of the dash. I also wanted to be able to easily store it away without leaving any tell-tale clues that I had one.

My solution is to set it on the steering column in front of and slightly below the instrument panel. Of course, the problem then was to keep it secured so it wouldn’t rattle around and fall off at every turn.
Here’s how it works.

If you look closely at the picture, you can see a little piece of 1/2" foam rubber (painted to match the dash) on either edge of the unit. I also put a longer strip under it and one just behind it. The result is a little cradle that keeps it from moving around or vibrating and still makes it easy to lift in and out.

As you can see, none of the important part of the instrument display is covered up and I have a perfect view of the map as I drive, without diverting my attention any more than if I were routinely checking the instruments. To avoid reaching through the steering wheel, I use a stylus for inputs.

On longer trips than it's battery can manage, I can just trail the power cord down and plug it into the cigarette lighter receptacle. When I park the car, I stuff the GPS and cord in the center console leaving no evidence behind that it was ever there – except for some innocuous foam rubber strips.

I also have a Toyota GPS in the dash, but the Maestro is so much easier to program and use that I only view the in-dash unit for general reference.

Yes, this is one big reason I like the Magellans - the power jack is located on the lower right side of the GPS. The power jack of other brands are located below, behind or at the suction cup cradle, which makes it difficult to do what you describe. I'm concerned that Magellan has moved the power jack of their upcoming series to one of the other 3 areas I mentioned. Hopefully, thieves won't start to realize that even a few pieces of foam rubber strips will indicate a GPS in the car.

Cool idea! I agree, most built in nav's are hard to use, mostly because of the crap UI.

Great Article! I hope to see more info from you soon!

I too use a friction mount for my Nuvi 660. When I leave the car, I put the mount under the passenger seat and the Nuvi in my pocket.

Just wait a short while and the WiFi GPRS GPS unit will be available and I am sure with a warrant they will be able to I.D the organize crime rings that are buying these units from the average smash and grab artists.
Until than, just use a dash mount and forget about leaving anything on the dash. As I have stated in the past, why would anyone leave a $500 bill on the dash, the GPS unit is great for criminals looking for crime of opportunities. It is easier to remove than a Radio and will fetch more money.
No wonder the GPS theft is on the rise. Also, there are tons of people that wants a GPS that don't care if it was taken without permission.
Fletch, start a stolen GPS unit register that register every unit with serial numbers that have been taken without permission. Have it under different brands and I bet you get tons of people that will hit your site daily to see if a unit they are interested on an auction site is stolen or not.
You can make tons of Google ad money and everybody wins.

I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla and use the storage part below the radio to place my GPS. I use a jelly sticky pad. It picks up the signal great. Sure, I have to look down sometimes, but with TTS it is not that often. When I leave the car I usually take the GPS with me.

I just had my GPS NUVI 650 stolen from my car. The thief
smashed the window and took it from my glove compartment. I strongly agree with Dave Fergunson's comment. Why don't Garmin and other Companies that make GPS track stolen devices? It should be possible to trace the serial number when it is in use after it has been stolen.

If only I had read this article sooner... My passenger window was smashed out in broad daylight on a busy street and my Garmin was stolen. They didn't touch the much more expensive laptops in plain view in the back seat! I too was shocked to learn that the NUVI and other GPS systems can't be tracked!

PB, if you leave expensive laptops in the back seat of your car, I have a bridge in Sydney Australia that I'd like to sell you!

Great article, but all that being said, why aren't these valuables being LOCKED in your trunk, glove compartment or center console. That certainly would make it harder to steal, too.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could leave a booby trap in place of a GPS in our vehicle? Ya know, like something that might blow the fingers off the thiefs hand? Hehe. Yeah, evil, but if people would learn to keep their hands to themselves, it wouldn't be an issue.