Someone searched my GPS

[wfooshee]

Several months ago I saw in an email or a post somewhere that you shouldn't name a waypoint HOME, as it shows anybody who gets the GPS where you live, and where your stuff is.

Sure enough, I came out of WalMart yesterday and found the Find Waypoint menu up on my GPS.

Closest waypoint to my house is the gas station a mile or two away, where I fill up before my rides. That's also the starting point of all my routes, rather than starting at the house.

Just a word to the wise, they really do try this, so clean up your GPS.

 

[Murph]

Thanks for the tip.

Maybe I'm paranoid but, whenever I have a GPS in my car, I remove it from visibility and lock the car door whenever I park. I read the police blotter in my local newspaper and, every week, there are many listings of GPS and other electronic devices being stolen from vehicles. Sure, a thief may break a window to get into the car but I figure the least I can do is not entice someone by showing them that I have a GPS.

(BTW - I guess this tip also goes with the tip not to leave your registration and garage door opener in the car!??!)

 

[bramfrank]

If you have a newer navigator with the feature, you can set up the lock function that requires a password before granting access - except when you are at the 'Home' waypoint.

Besides. So he knows where you live. If he knows who you are (which is a lot better than knowing what you ride) he has LOTS of ways to find out where you live.

Don't leave your home unsecured. Doesn't matter whether you drive an old beater or an expensive sportscar or ride a bicycle.

Hiding your navigator when you go inside store provides no protection against a smashed window unless you also remove the bracket and power cable. They have learned that people stick their toys under the seat, in the armrest or in the glove box.

 

[wheatonFJR]

All this GPS stuff is scaring me. I guess I'll just go with maps and live in the woods so THEY can't find me.

scared in wheaton

 

[Murph]

All this GPS stuff is scaring me. I guess I'll just go with maps and live in the woods so THEY can't find me.
scared in wheaton

Too late. I designated "home" in my "GPS" as your house. It gets me close enough to my real home without giving up my address ... and the peace of mind I now have is priceless!

 

[wheatonFJR]

All this GPS stuff is scaring me. I guess I'll just go with maps and live in the woods so THEY can't find me.
scared in wheaton

Too late. I designated "home" in my "GPS" as your house. It gets me close enough to my real home without giving up my address ... and the peace of mind I now have is priceless!

D*mn...foiled again.

But I think I'm still good...I really don't live at Hooters anymore. Really.

 

[wfooshee]

I've thought about designating a false "HOME" but I can't think of anybody I hate enough whose address I know.

Maybe I'll use the police station or the county jail.

Just to be clear, this wasn't in the car, it was on the bike.

OTOH, I am kinda "so what?" about if they know where I live. They'd get there, see the '89 Gran Marquis, a '95 Probe with rusted rotors, and shutters missing from the front of the house, then change their mind as to the value of the trip.

 

[Crash Cash]

Maybe I'm paranoid but, whenever I have a GPS in my car, I remove it from visibility and lock the car door whenever I park.

Ditto. The GPS and any other electronics at least get unclipped & stuck in the tank bag. Granted, the tank bag can be stolen too, but at least it's not going EXPENSIVE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS!!! STEAL ME!!! to everyone in sight.

 

[2WheelTiger]

Yeah, I'm sorta wondering why the perp didn't just take the whole GPS? Did he have paper and pencil or a photographic memory?

Seems strange to me. It's sorta like the "don't display your license number in a pic" subject. Thousands of people see my plate number every week and most of them live close enough they could easily steal the FJR if they were the type. Should I really worry about some guy in Romania knowing my plate number?

Besides, who leaves expensive and operational electronics on the bike while it's a WalMart? I wouldn't leave a coupon for Twinkies on my bike in those places! :lol:

 

[wfooshee]

The GPS was secured to the mount, he'd have needed the "special tool" to release it.

Of course, he could have just removed the whole RAM mount arm, I don't have the security bolt on it, but then he'd have had to cut the power cable since he couldn't get it off the back of the GPS.

Things to think about.

My helmet and gloves were laying out in the open, the helmet on the mirror, and the gloves stuffed into the grab rail. Life is kinda different here in the rural South.

It's possible it was just somebody playing with the unit, but having Waypoints up, which is not the first selection on the find button. . . .

 

[Geezer]

I leave mu GPS on the bike locked on with the security screw. And the X50 radar detector is also on there, trapped in a case by the brake reservoir which is held up against it by the steering lock. They could both be removed by force if someone wanted them bad enough. I only take these off if I'm going to be parked for a long time. If I do take them off they go either in locked luggage or with me.

 

[Tenchi]

Good idea. My first two initials are KC, so I usually put it down as "Casey" in my GPS.

The other thing is because I don't have a mount for my GPS, it goes everywhere I go...

 

[Bounce]

Great idea! The police station it less than a mile from my house. I'll define it as "HOME".

 

[airboss]

Neighbor across the back fence has a backyard full of Boxers and a Pitbull, better than a Police Station.