HI fellow nomads! I need a bit of advice from seasoned travelers who use a GPS in their car.

I have one that costs about $300 so am a bit paranoid about leaving it in plain view on the windscreen. Over the years I have heard about cars being broken into & having them stolen.

I prefer to leave it in place on the windscreen and not have to take it off every time we stop. Also I've been told thieves notice the mark left by the suction cup is a dead giveaway so that needs to be cleaned off every time also.

Could you please advise me if, as their cheaper & more common now days,

Do they still get stolen a lot?

Do you leave yours on the windscreen?

I would be reluctant to leave it showing in a city but in your experiences & vast store of nomad stories is it wise to leave them on the windscreen in country towns etc?
Thanks all.

I have an elcheapo and though I'm not that concerned if it were stolen it's the damage to your vehicle that costs. I leave the sticker thing mounted on the windscreen and simply take the gizmo and power supply with me in its little bag.....

Yes from what I have heard these things now being as cheap as chips (soon they'll be in packets of "Blue Hills" (Cereal)) I think the risks of stealing one may outweigh the gain. No accounting for the occasional drug crazed looney though, but then they will steal anything...

I have Tom. He's the only bloke I take instructions from - after I program him first. I digress! When I'm parked up in town I leave him home unless I need to find the address. Then I disconnect him when I'm out of the car, and "stash" him out of sight. Most thefts from cars are monkey see, monkey steal. If it's out of sight, and this applies to cameras, laptops, binoculars, mobile phones and any aparatus of value, even cash, they don't look for it. This crime is opportunistic. Don't give them a reason to break into your vehicle. These gadgets are still quite pricey, and some of us can't afford to just buy another one, even if we are insured. It's also the inconvenience and mucking around. Out of sight, out of hands. Most of the thieves are drugged up dope heads and logic does not prevail. They need the cash for the next hit. Do them a favour. Hide your stuff! Cheers Chris

mine is about $400, I dont really think too much about it, if I am at a shopping centre then I take it off and lock it in the glovebox, I leave the "stand" on the window but if I was in a city I think I would take it all off and give the window a wipe as well but the looneys dont need any excuse, if they see something of value or something perceived to be of value then they will smash and grab anyway, a car stereo is enough nowadays

We take ours off for sure and stash it out of sight. Not worth the risk and it is only a few seconds to restore it to its spot. We take the holder off but that depends on where we are going at the time.

hell never thought of that, thanks, I'm deleting "home" right now, but that raises another question, if I delete it, where am I going to live and how do I find it

Thats a worry mate. You could always put in the mother in laws address. 

there's a thought!! only trouble is it would be a cemetery! but I spose that would serve them right

Thanks for  the good advice people, it sounds like I'll have to play it safe still. Unluckly the silly plug on my TomTom takes me minutes at a time sometimes to plug in, its recessed so makes it stubborn to click into the hole...very frustrating.

I saw on eBay (yes I'm an eBayaddict also) a weighted mat you place on the dash & the GPS sits safely within it but its only on the American eBay & I've not found it in Aus anywhere. I am emailing the company to find out the postage, the price is $18US so with postage may get a bit too pricey for my pocket. If anyone is interested the eBay page is -
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PORTABLE-GPS-HOLDER-FRICTION-DASH-PAD-MOUNT-Nav-Mat_W0QQitemZ150363392284QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item23025b491c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Also great advice Guru & Ma about deleting the 'home' setting on it.

I pocured from the good looking one of the family a small perfume atomiser. Filled it with windex. Spray and wipe no ring back in glove box all fixed

Windex? Water, vinegar and a drop of 2 only of dish detergent. Just bonza window washer. They'd have a hard time finding my home. I tow it. Then they'd have to find it if it's not on the back of the tug. Serves 'em right. Just don't encourage the buggers. Cheers Chris

nah!! I love all my neighbors, have to go a long way to find a persons home that I either dont know and dont like, probably other end of town, then I would have to be carefull

How about the local cop shop?

unfortunately I have a lot of freinds in there as well, whats your address John??????

I have a Tomtom they have the option for you to enter a security password ,so if anyone does steal it they will not be able to use it withouy the pass word and so your home address will be safe. I genrally take off the unit but leave the bracket on the window ,No trouble so far with thieves

which obes are good for vans? ie ones that you can change if your in a car or van