Do You Have a GPS? Please Be Careful
I received a warning message from the local San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce. It was not clear if this incident that is being reported actually happened here in San Jacinto, CA or elsewhere. The information was posted as a warning to be careful with a GPS system, particularly a mobile dash mounted type.
The story unfolds with a family attending a football game at the local high school and their car being broken into. When the family returned after an exciting 4th Quarter, where the home team upset their cross-town rival in the last 2 minutes everyone was very pumped up and feeling pretty good...until they got to their car.
The car had been broken into and ransacked. Missing were a number of CD's, a few dollars in spare change, a pair of expensive sunglasses, the dash mounted GPS and the garage door opener.
The thieves took no time checking out the GPS for an entry called "HOME". They followed the turn-by-turn directions right to the vacant home and popped open the garage with the handy garage door opener and pulled right in, closing the door behind them.
The thieves now had complete access to the home and knew exactly how long before the victims returned home after the football game - without even taking into consideration the near hour that it took to report the crime to campus security and again to the local police.
Our victims' home was ransacked with expensive electronics, cameras, computers, jewelry, artifacts and even cash taken from the home.
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY
GPS is great for what it is intended but please don't label your locations with the obvious, such as home or work. If you do, then select the nearest major intersection as your destination. This way if you, or anyone else, want to use they system to find your way home the GPS will take you from where you are to within a few blocks of your home and you will be able to find your way easily from their. The thieves on the other hand will be stuck in the middle of an intersection trying to figure out what went wrong.
Please share this important information with everyone you know...pass it on...
You Should Also Read: Do You Have a Cell Phone? Please Be Careful
Until Next Time, Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, ePRO, REALTOR®
DRE Lic No: 01444168
This blog and the contents written here is the intellectual property of John Occhi, Temecula - Murrieta, CA REALTOR® in the South West Riverside County region of the Inland Empire of Southern California. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of John Occhi and those who comment. Please note that I am not an attorney or a tax professional and any time I discuss either topic, I suggest you consult with the proper professional for relevant assistance.
I am proud to be a full time REALTOR® who is proud to be a contributing member of the ActiveRain community.
Agree -- a GPS needs to have the Home location be someplace other than your actual home.
Uggh- my gps was stolen last week. Guess I should be grateful that it occurred while waiting five minutes for a pizza pick up, and not at an event in which time would provide opportunity...thanks for the sliver lining (I think)...
Thanks for sharing - I need to change some things in my GPS -- You can never be too careful!
John - That's scary to hear. I think I might just have to change my home location to a park close by my house. That way I won't have to worry about anybody stealing my GPS.
This has been said before and hopefully everyone is listening. It is amazing what crooks can think of.
Bob & Caroline - this is good advice - I know I changed mine to the nearest signalized intersection
John
Options - thanks for lettingus know...Electroincs are stolen every day. Please make sure you keep you home secure
Norma - Never too careful is the right attitude when it comes to personal safety
John
Robert - that is an excellent idea...I even thought of changing it to the Police Station - about a mile from where I live...SURPRISE
Charles,
You are right - no matter what the good guys come up with the bad guys are looking to take advantage one more step deeper into the sewer. I guess thats why they are the bad guys
John