Warning - Portable Sat Nav users
 

DON'T LEAVE YOUR PORTABLE SAT NAV UNITS ON DISPLAY IN THE CAR.

I guess you all know whats coming next.

For the first time since I had the unit, about 15 months, I was absent minded enough to leave it in its holder, mounted at base of the A pillar. Rushed out of the car with other things on my mind, and even though it was parked on a main road, 25yrds from a shop, and about 200 yards from enough armed police to start a small war, some thieving scum fu©ker smashed the window and legged it with the unit and holder.

Luckily no damage to any other part of the car and nothing else taken, so I'm not too upset, just angry that I was absent minded enough to forget to remove it, and more worried about suddenly finding bits of glass with my hand that I missed with the hoover. Just waiting for Autoglass to secure the car - they don't have the glass in stock at the moment.

I know the police have warned about the increase in theft of portable sat nav, and I normally heed the warning - make sure you heed the warning every time !!!

Gareth

Sorry to hear about your bad luck mate!

Just to extend your warning:
Don't even leave the empty sat nav holder in the car or they might break in hoping you've left it in the glovebox.

Also, this time of year, be careful not to leave presents on display, even if they're in bags. Get it all in the boot if possible.

Its easy to get absent minded this time of year what with all the running around etc.. BUT lets not give the pondlife an easy time folks eh?

NS04

Sorry to hear yours got taken - theres obviously a lot of opportunist scum out there who wont think twice about stealing ANYTHING of value on display in cars :mad:

The problem with sat nav units like tomtom is that theyre a bit on the bulky side, so I reckon a lot of people probably leave them in the car/glove box as a result.

Yep, you're quite right, I'm never normally far from the car and in and out of it all day, so its not a practical answer for me. The next car will have built in Sat Nav.

It's very easy to become complacent

And again just to add - disable the boot release by the drivers door - done by flicking the lever on the mechanism in the boot

have a look on ebay, the dodgey ones arnt hard to spot...


what system was it???


Mart

Mart - Navman 510, the thing was the thick little sh1ts didn't take the charger, and its fully discharged at the moment so the scum are probably still trying to find their way home :)

yhm

Same with the PFC commander, it looks just like a Sat Nav system. Its a pain to disconnect, so I always unclip it and hide it out of view.

Just had something on 5th Gear about this. They even recommended that you remove the suction mount from the windscreen, and then clean the windscreen to remove the suction mark.

In practice I guess there wont be many prepared to go that far.

Allan

Cheers Mart :)

Gareth sorry to hear that :( might be able to help you out with one for a bit if you need it :)

Cheers Sammy, I'll be in touch if needs be, although I still have the A-Z - they didn't nick that.

Haven't forgotten about those photographs, will speak soon.

Gareth

PS ... just twigged, it wasn't you who nicked it and now wants to sell me a used model per chance, it wasn't that far away !!!!! ;) :):):)

Allan - just seen 5th Gear on tape - ironic eh.

Just for the record - as I mentioned earlier Autoglass didn't have glass in stock but they were going to secure the car using temporary perspex, but as Imprezas have frameless doors they can't use it :rolleyes: as I suspected.

At least its safe in my boss's garage now ... best nights sleep I'll have had in ages !

had my £600 stereo stolen from London last week.

Was tempting :p

I've got one you can borrow, not a problem at all :D

Eeek :( I leave my suction mount on the windscreen, as my windscreen is quite steep and its very difficult to put it on. No doubt the scum are too thick to realise I don't have a glovebox!

Blimey - so there's an advantage for having satnav on your PDA, after all!

Had an Alpine face-off stereo fitted instead of the OEM brick - now I never listen to it, as I can't be bothered with the face on/off each short journey.

There's a lot to be said for OEM equipment, unfortunately.

Don't these systems require registration like the Road Angel :confused: IIRC if they're nicked you report them stolen and the account is suspended, rendering the unit useless. But I suppose with a (s)camera detector you need to update, whereas satnav just looks for satelites, or do they also need regular updates, for cameras, new roads etc :confused: I have neither BTW, just clutching at straws :rolleyes:

yes and no..

you need an activation code, but once activated, thats it, all it does, is look for the sats...

its the software that needs the code, but cough cough it can be cough ;)

mart

I am soooooo looking forward to coming HOME to the UK for christmas, you lot paint such a lovely picture of the place I can't wait.

So going by what I read on here, I will have my sat nav nicked, my windows broken and my car nicked at gun/knife point! that is if I don't get car jacked at the traffic lights or run off the road by a chav.

Maybe I should leave my car parked on the road with my sat nav on display and the keys in the ignition outside my house in Germany and know full well it will still be there in a months time when I come back!!!

Is Britain really as bad as you lot make it out to be or is it that the whole UK is concentrated on this one BBS which makes it out to be a 3rd world lawless war zone???

Geee I can't wait.!!!!!!

yawl come back now wurzel,

we good ole counrty boys are waitin to give you some uk hospitality like

:D:D:D:D

MArt