VEHICLE GPS THEFTS CAN LEAD TO HOME BURGLARIES

摘要

Last December, an Acura executive fleet vehicle was stolen from a Fortune 500 corporate parking garage in Atlanta. In addition to stealing the vehicle, the thieves retrieved the "home location" information previously programmed by the exec in the in-dash GPS system. Using the GPS data, the same thieves burglarized the exec's home several days later — gaining access by using the garage door opener in the car. This is a true story. In fact, the Atlanta police reported that during this same timeframe, a half-dozen Acuras were stolen, with three of the thefts including subsequent home intrusions. GPS-related home burglaries are not restricted to the U.S. In another incident that occurred in the United Kingdom, a GPS device was stolen from a fleet vehicle parked at a theme park. As reported by Fleet News, a UK-based fleet magazine, the thief retrieved the directions to the owner's home stored in the GPS system and stole a £20,000 (USD $41,000) Saab convertible.