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Thieves Turn To Bluetooth To Identify Cars Containing Satnav
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 19 Feb 2012
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.
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| Comments
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 Posted by andy-c1 on Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:48 am |
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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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| Posted by Vandam on Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:08 am |
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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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| Posted by psyskiesman on Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:52 pm |
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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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| Posted by Andy_P on Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:12 pm |
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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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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:19 pm |
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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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| Posted by psyskiesman on Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:20 pm |
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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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| Posted by Andy_P on Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:42 pm |
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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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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:04 pm |
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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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| Posted by peterc10 on Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:24 pm |
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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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| Posted by PaulB2005 on Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:28 pm |
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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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| Posted by psyskiesman on Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:33 pm |
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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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