Houses 'A Target For SatNav Thieves'

With the rise of electronic navigation gadgets in our cars maps are dropping out of fashion. However, maybe we should not be so quick to ditch the paper copies as they do not contain sensitive information which is now being targeted by opportunistic thieves.

The personal information stored in satellite navigation (SatNav) devices may be used by criminals to burgle residences, police have warned. Details stored on the mapping system could lead to a burglar using them to steal goods from homes to a greater value than the machine's black market cost.

As well as the price of the original car crime, a residential break-in could end up costing consumers in terms of an increased home insurance rate, said an insurance researcher at a well known website that gives financial advice.

However, device manufacturer TomTom has commented that password-protected SatNav devices are available. "Thanks to our newly introduced pin-code protection, drivers can secure their device against theft," a representative said.

Not only it is our homes that are at risk, if friends and relatives personal information is also stored on the device they could be the thieves’ next target.

Top tips to prevent theft of your satnav:

•    It sounds obvious but simply removing the gadget from your car when your leave it is probably the single most useful thing you can do.
•    Do not hide it in the glove compartment or under seats as these are the first places that thieves will look. The safest place is either with you or in the looked boot.
•    If you have removed the satnav from you r dashboard there may still be a mark from the large sucker. Ideally you should clean this off as it is an obvious sign that you have a satnav. Usually a duster is sufficient to do this.
•    make sure your satnav is insured so that even if it is stolen you can at least get a new one.

Elsewhere it has been reported that SatNav theft has contributed to around a 45 per cent increase of vehicle crime in the Thames Valley area.

If you would like to know more about home insurance why not ask AnswerBank Insurance.