Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Stolen GPS Units Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:36 pm
I work for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Memphis, Tn.
And for the record, I have very little knowledge of GPS units.
Long story short, we have an enormous amount of GPS units (mainly Garmin, Magellan, & TomTom) being stolen and/or pawned in the Memphis area and the tri-state area.
Our problem lies when people either a) don't report the unit as being stolen in thought that they believe it will not be found or make a difference or b) the serial number provided by the owner of the device is not accurate or they have not registered the unit to the manufacturer, so it is almost impossible to locate the owner.... the information provided by the pawn shops are inaccurate, if it is listed at all.
I've got a couple "newb" questions:
1. Is there a website in to report stolen units? If you did have one stolen, did you report it to a law enforcement agency or to the manufacturer or both?
2. Are there any identifiers, other than model/serial, that would pinpoint the owner?
I work for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Memphis, Tn.
And for the record, I have very little knowledge of GPS units.
Long story short, we have an enormous amount of GPS units (mainly Garmin, Magellan, & TomTom) being stolen and/or pawned in the Memphis area and the tri-state area.
Our problem lies when people either a) don't report the unit as being stolen in thought that they believe it will not be found or make a difference or b) the serial number provided by the owner of the device is not accurate or they have not registered the unit to the manufacturer, so it is almost impossible to locate the owner.... the information provided by the pawn shops are inaccurate, if it is listed at all.
I've got a couple "newb" questions:
1. Is there a website in to report stolen units? If you did have one stolen, did you report it to a law enforcement agency or to the manufacturer or both?
2. Are there any identifiers, other than model/serial, that would pinpoint the owner?
Thanks in Advance.
There is some kind of registry in the UK Dont know about the US.
For TomTom units, almost everyone would have registered in their website to use the software called HOME for update and maintenance purposes. HP does the same at www.ipaq.com
Therefore both these manufacturers at least have the ability to link serial numbers with the owners.
Also, many of these devices are password protected and have the owners name and address input in the device itself.
2. Are there any identifiers, other than model/serial, that would pinpoint the owner?
** For TomTom , on the navigation screen, touch the satellite signal bars, then touch the tiny rectangle 'Version x.xx' you 'll see on top: DEVICE ID with two alphanumeric fields AAAAA AAAAA.
** For Garmin Handhelds you press MENU/MENU/SETUP/SYSTEM/MENU/SOFTWARE VERSION you will see at the bottom a 10 char numerical fields UNIT ID.
That's the GPS equivalence of the S.I.N number. If a user don't register that information with the manufacturers, they cannot get warranty nor buy new maps.
Other GPS may have different way to store this information. I doubt that you can remember all that, do you ?
1. Is there a website in to report stolen units? If you did have one stolen, did you report it to a law enforcement agency or to the manufacturer or both?
2. Are there any identifiers, other than model/serial, that would pinpoint the owner?
1) There isn't a general/big one that I know of in the USA... perhaps I should start one.
2) Yes... The "home" address listed in the GPS. When you first unpackage them one of the first things people will do is to program in their home address. This is listed as "Home" in the GPS. On a TomTom for example you could go Menu -> Navigate to -> Home.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Re: Stolen GPS Units Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:10 pm
Tim wrote:
shelbysheriff wrote:
1. Is there a website in to report stolen units? If you did have one stolen, did you report it to a law enforcement agency or to the manufacturer or both?
2. Are there any identifiers, other than model/serial, that would pinpoint the owner?
1) There isn't a general/big one that I know of in the USA... perhaps I should start one.
2) Yes... The "home" address listed in the GPS. When you first unpackage them one of the first things people will do is to program in their home address. This is listed as "Home" in the GPS. On a TomTom for example you could go Menu -> Navigate to -> Home.
On a Garmin you would tap Where to -> Go Home.
I agree, you should start one. It would be very valuable.
Okay, so basically pawn shops are required to enter the items pawned with serial numbers, model numbers, etc...however, most are not honest.
So, we are doing a "reverse" investigation in attempts to enter serial numbers into our database if any reports are filed. However, we have run into issues with the manufacturer either releasing information due to consumer privacy or merely speaking to someone who speaks English.
In addition, our database only contains reports from Shelby County, where most individuals are stealing the units and driving into another county/state to pawn the item.
Obviously a huge obstacle to overcome, but it seems that we are possibly missing something that could aid in the recovery of the stolen units back to the owner. Hopefully that made a little more sense. So any input or are we SOL? lol.
Just a note for the Detective Division which may prove useful.
Garmins's include an tracklog function, date and time-stamped, showing where the device has been. (Some others may as well) It might help establish where someone was, or where a vehicle had traveled at a specific time and date. If the nav was used after being stolen, I could see it being useful for finding the home of the thief, and a log of his travels.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:20 pm
We found two stolen gps units at one location merely based on the location provided! Thanks..
Two questions about TomTom:
1. Found the "home" address, but is there anywhere in the device that the owner's name would be located? I.E., if the individual did enter their name, where would it be?
2. When looking at the log of the last destinations in the device, how do you find the address of that destination? I.E. Yesterday, the last location of the device (which is more than likely the address where the theft occurred) was a motel 6, but when I touched it, it went directly to a map to give me driving directions.
Also, generally speaking, do individuals enter their phone numbers in these devices?
1) Possibly. On many of the models you can go to Menu -> Change Preferences -> (cycle through the next arrow) -> Set Owner. Here they can type in a few lines with their name, address, phone number, etc. I doubt a high percentage of people have done that.
2) You could go to Menu -> (cycle through the next arrow) -> Browse Map -> Find -> Recent Destination -> then select the recent destinations. It won't show you the actual address, but it should zoom in on the map enough for you to figure out where it is.
Most people probably don't enter their phone number into the device. The only time that is likely is when people have a Bluetooth enabled GPS for hands free calling and have paired it with their phone and downloaded their phonebook into the GPS.
1) Possibly. On many of the models you can go to Menu -> Change Preferences -> (cycle through the next arrow) -> Set Owner. Here they can type in a few lines with their name, address, phone number, etc. I doubt a high percentage of people have done that.
2) You could go to Menu -> (cycle through the next arrow) -> Browse Map -> Find -> Recent Destination -> then select the recent destinations. It won't show you the actual address, but it should zoom in on the map enough for you to figure out where it is.
Most people probably don't enter their phone number into the device. The only time that is likely is when people have a Bluetooth enabled GPS for hands free calling and have paired it with their phone and downloaded their phonebook into the GPS.
He could on a TomTom, tap navigate to, the recent destinations, and see a list of recent places travelled to. Chances are the home location would be one of them. Another way is to search thru favourites and custom POIs, work address should show up there. Finally, going thru the phonebook or call log should give either a reachable phone number for the owner or contact that can provide one.
Actually they do keep a local database on the unit, cnauman. It takes a few seconds to a minute or so to retrieve that data from the phone so rather than fetch the data each time the GPS devices will store the data locally on the GPS.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:36 pm
Tim wrote:
Actually they do keep a local database on the unit, cnauman. It takes a few seconds to a minute or so to retrieve that data from the phone so rather than fetch the data each time the GPS devices will store the data locally on the GPS.
Are you really a sheriff or just trying to hack someones info out of their GPS?
I can confirm based on the email address they are who they say they are.
cnauman wrote:
Even if you could get to it I doubt it's as simple as a text file, at least I would hope the info stored is encrypted.
It is stored in a simple text file you can access via USB. I'm not sure how that is any more of a risk though since it is easier just to pull up the numbers by the menu system like I described above.
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 544 Location: Bloomington, Il
Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:43 pm
Ok let's say I have a TomTom One LE and I have registered it on Home. Can I find the Serial Number using Home without having the TomTom connected i.e. AFTER it has been stolen? If not, can we get this information from TomTom?
Good question. I was just able to find a serial number for one of my TomTom devices looking through the files HOME had used. Specifically, if you look in the folder you have selected for HOME to user for backups, I have a file called 'Backup Info.ini' which contained the name of the backup, the device serial code, and the device type. There might be some other places as well.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:31 pm
Ok, another question....
If a intelligent thief were to steal the gps unit and had access to software, could that information currently installed in the device be deleted/overwritten?
just a side note; I have the nuvi 250. I have a custom picture as my splash screen. Using a photo editor I have entered my email address. When the unit is turned on the screen appears with my email address prior to the PIN number prompt. Very easy to identify.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:06 pm
Nate wrote:
just a side note; I have the nuvi 250. I have a custom picture as my splash screen. Using a photo editor I have entered my email address. When the unit is turned on the screen appears with my email address prior to the PIN number prompt. Very easy to identify.
hmmm. interesting.
Thanks.
We've actually ran into some issues with items with stored email addresses--most reverse email address search engines return no results and many do not frequently use the email address.
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Bootheel of Missouri
Re: Stolen GPS Units Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:14 am
shelbysheriff wrote:
Long story short, we have an enormous amount of GPS units (mainly Garmin, Magellan, & TomTom) being stolen and/or pawned in the Memphis area and the tri-state area.
That is so true. I had Garmin Nuvi and a Alienware notebook stolen out of my van around noon beside of the Old Navy on Winchester on Labor Day 2006. The officer that took the report said it happens daily. I gave her the serial numbers but never heard anything else. There are so few Alienware notebooks around you would have thought at least it would have be noticed somewhere.
Thanks for coming on this board and trying to help those of us that have had our GPS units stolen.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Re: Stolen GPS Units Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:38 pm
Semo wrote:
shelbysheriff wrote:
Long story short, we have an enormous amount of GPS units (mainly Garmin, Magellan, & TomTom) being stolen and/or pawned in the Memphis area and the tri-state area.
That is so true. I had Garmin Nuvi and a Alienware notebook stolen out of my van around noon beside of the Old Navy on Winchester on Labor Day 2006. The officer that took the report said it happens daily. I gave her the serial numbers but never heard anything else. There are so few Alienware notebooks around you would have thought at least it would have be noticed somewhere.
Thanks for coming on this board and trying to help those of us that have had our GPS units stolen.
Steve
Thanks. That's what makes all of our efforts worthwhile.
That area has definitely increased in crime over the past decade; used to be a very nice area.
Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Memphis, TN
Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:50 pm
Just an update...
We have generated 9 cases from the information obtained on this website. Many other stolen gps units were identified, but lacked vital information for prosecution.
We have generated 9 cases from the information obtained on this website. Many other stolen gps units were identified, but lacked vital information for prosecution.
Well... This reminded me that it was a good idea to enter my name and address into the welcome screen of my 60CSx. Useful thread. Getting all that text typed into it is a bit painstaking, but if it would ever help me getting it back when lost or stolen...
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