GPS safety

[BB-Q]

A question, or poll, really.

When you park your car, do you leave the windscreen mount on or remove and hide it?

I'm just wondering because the mount I've got with my Mio is leech-like and seems to have a tenacious grip on the glass that it releases begrudgingly. I'm not worried about damage to the screen, it's more the pain in the a**e factor of wrestling it off the screen every time.

My other thought was to go to a permanent mount. After all, my phone ahs a permanent mount so why not the GPS?

I'm interested in all sides of the discussion here.

[Privateer]

Hi BB-Q,

[BB-Q]

[alix776]

i have 2 brodit mounts in the car and there in my truck
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

[Privateer]

Hi BB-Q,

I’ve had a quick look on the Brodit website, here are some things that you may want to have a look at:

652809 ProClip: Ford Transit 01-06 For UK


651893 ProClip: Volvo 740 91-98 For UK


652283 ProClip: Volvo S40 96-00 For all countries


If you want to swap equipment from one vehicle to another you will need one or two packets of:

213005 Move Clip


Finally you will need a holder for your Mitac Mio 268.

215114 Mounting plate


I hope that the above helps. Be warned that Brodit is expensive, but it’s a well built system.

Have a word with David from DSL Developments for Brodit stuff.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[GJF]

BB-Q wrote:

[BB-Q]

The Brodit stuff is definitely interesting. However, I reckon I can make the Proclips in steel and just buy the adaptor from Brodit or HR (been doing my research, see).

An hour's work with hammer and welder should see a nice proclip style mount over the vent- the thought of paying out over £20 for a bent bit of plastic genuinely pains me when I could make something in steel to do exactly the same job.

Not that I'm a tightwad or anything...................

[philpugh]

I remove the device (nuvi) but leave the windscreen mount in place. I have been doing this in various cars with various devices (PDAs etc) for several years - no problems yet (touch wood). But I do take what I consider to be sensible precautions. I remove the mount when leaving the car overnight in a car park for example.

Where I work there have been a number of vehicles broken into (A57 through Warrington) during the day to pinch bags etc that people have left in the car. But I NEVER leave any devices in the car (including the boot/glove compartment). I tend to be 'showy' when removing the nuvi and phone - holding them in my hand as I shut the card door then putting them into my bag. I don't know if it works but I think it deters any opportunistic theft by someone who sees me pull up using it. The nuvi is 'GARMIN locked' to a location that isn't work or home - so it would be of little use to anyone if pinched.

If they are going to break into the car to see what you've got - you arten't going to stop them.
_________________
Phil

[SlimboyFat]

I would say that you should definitely remove it.

Brother left his in the window in a car park whilst nipping into town. Came back to a broken window. When reported to the police they said that several cars had been broken into in that area and all of them had a sat nav windscreen mount or suction mark.

We later noticed a marker pen line on the front wing so assumed their method was to send the kids round the car park to spot the cars (they would be just move on and wouldn't have any "tools" on them if stopped by the police). The older people (parents, brothers etc) would then nip round and easily spot the targets...

[classy56]

We all know the very real threat of having our units swiped if we drop our guard and leave them in the vehicle.

But who should the onus be on to safeguard them?

Should the manufacturers be responsible and develop 'unnickable' units, or should the task remain with us, the end user?

I honestly don't know the answer, I know that the companies 'could' make them less viable to steal and could probably make them useless if stolen, but the cost would probably put them out of most peoples price range.

I think that a simple precaution like entering a pin number to enable the unit to switch on would stop a lot of thefts, I know the argument about pin numbers not working with mobile phones etc, but surely with todays technology they could improve the system.

There must be an answer.

I have noticed several HGV's and coaches displaying signs to the effect that 'there are no sat nav systems left in this vehicle whilst unattended' etc.

To me that is just an invitation to thieves advising them that there 'are' sat navs used in that vehicle, and its possible that the owner might have forgotten to remove them!!!
_________________
Tomtom Go730T
App 8.300
Map v815.2003


To old to die young.

[BB-Q]

In fairness, companies are making step to make GPS systems unstealable- by building them into the vehicle itself.

However, this doesn't help most of us.

I think that a Brodit/Proclip style mount is the way to go, rather than a windscreen mount.

I myself have attended one or two vehicles that have been broken into to steal the GPS, the particular scrote doing the stealing (in Blackpool) has been locked up now, the police have told me.

However, I think the chances can't be much greater than getting your stereo taken when you use a "proper" mount. The windscreen mounts just seem to scream "I've got a sat nav in here" to me![/b]

[SlimboyFat]

Sat Navs are now the most stolen item from the car.


The thief is out to sell and he isn't going to get much for a Stereo when you can pay £60 to £100 for an half decent unit at halfords.

He's much better with a Sat Nav that are still more expensive and most people don't know the actual value of the Sat Nav.

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