Story Created: May 8, 2009 at 9:34 AM MDT
Story Updated: May 8, 2009 at 9:54 AM MDT
You've either seen them or have one in your car. GPS units make it easier to find your way around town. But criminals have found a way to make it easier to get to and into your home using the GPS to find their way there.
"Unfortunately, we see more crime, especially car burglaries," says Sgt. Phil Grimes with the Idaho Falls Police Department. "We'll see people walk around parking lots, down streets."
Rick: "To beat a criminal you've gotta think like one..."
Grimes: "Well, I think so."
But how many of you know how to do this?
To find out, Eyewitness News went to a few of the bigger parking lots in Idaho Falls. We tried both Wal-marts, Sam's Club and Fred Meyer. Over the course of the afternoon we found about a dozen GPS units mounted to car windows. We waited near the cars to talk to some of the owners.
Rick: "I see that you guys have the GPS system there, do you regularly leave it up in the window?"
Malcom Shields: "Yup, always have."
Rick: "Do you guys have yours set with the 'go home' button."
Malcom: "Yeah."
Rick: "People are stealing them and hitting the go home button, and taking the garage door remote."
Malcom: "Hmm, I hadn't thought about it."
Rick: "Terry, you said you've had to replace a couple of GPS systems already right?"
Terry Jensen :"3 of them."
Rick: "How'd they get into the car?"
Terry: "Smash a window and get in... just reach in a grab it and run."
And he still keeps the GPS in his window.
Terry: "I won't go without 'em."
Rick: "What about hiding it, taking it down while you go inside?"
Terry: "Too much trouble, for me it's a lot of trouble, I'll replace it."
So what about access to their homes?
Terry: "We live out in the country, and everybody knows everybody that turns into a driveway there, they're watched."
Rick: "You guys have the remote in their too?"
Malcom: "Yeah, so you've given me something to think about."
The bottom line:
"Lock your car and hide the items," says Sgt. Grimes.
Either put things in the glove box, under your seat, or in the trunk.
"That'll take care of about 95% of the problems," says Sgt. Grimes.
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