GPS - friend or foe?

Having a GPS (global positioning system, a satellite-based navigation system) in your car can be a fantastic aid in navigation. It makes it much easier to travel to your destination, announcing journey instructions, allowing you to concentrate on the road ahead and arrive at your destination relaxed and on time.

We all know that having valuables in view can attract thieves, what about your GPS stuck on your windscreen, nice item for thieves. But you always keep valuables out of view and religiously you take it of your windscreen an place it in you glove box or boot out of sight. Did you ever think that the mark on the windscreen where the suction pad was attached is a dead giveaway.

But is it just your GPS that they are after? other valuables in your car? or in the boot? or is it valuables at YOUR HOME?

If you think back to when you you first set up your new GPS device, it may have asked you for your home address, so that way when you are out and about you can in one touch press home button and have your home directions show up and you are on your way.

So what if it wasn’t you that was pushing the home button? You just left your car for a few minutes and it has been stolen! All the thief needs do is to press the home button on the GPS and it directs them to your house, and they know that you are not at home! Perhaps you have a spare set of house keys in the car? Do you have keys in obvious places around your house? Remote control for the garage under your sun visor or in the console, the thief just pushed the remote button and your garage door magically opens! Which also confirms your house. Do you lock the door from garage to house? Or can the thief walk straight in collect your goods and then drive off in your car!

I would suggest that you think twice before placing in your home address, maybe set it to your suburb, or shopping centre or even to the local police station as I have done or just don’t set this feature.

GPS is is a great aid for navigation but make it your friend not your enemy.