Stolen TomTom: Tracable?

[NoSmokingBandit]

I was in Philly with my dad today and someone broke into our car and stole his gps. They took some change and other little things, but fortunately didnt find the credit cards or sensitive data. I am going to give TomTom a call tomorrow, but im wondering if anyone here has had any luck recovering a stolen GPS. It wasnt an expensive model, and the insurance will cover it (if they dont its not a problem buying a new one), im just more concerned about finding the jerk that broke into our car.

 

[benflick]

I mean, why not? It is a GPS afterall.

 

[zioxide]

i doubt it. its just a gps receiver.. it doesn't send your position out.

 

[Aperture]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure consumer GPS devices aren't capable of reporting information... only receiving.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

Ah, that sucks. Worth a shot though.

 

[Love]

I'd call TT. If you have the S/N available, they might be able to find it. Doubtful.

 

[spaceboots06]

The iPhone can send it's coordinates outwards. The iPhone has gps. Why can't this work with a TomTom?

ex concerning the iphone

1. There are those apps you can buy that email you the phone's coordinates.

2. AT&T has that protect-your-child plan where you can locate your kids via gps.

 

[SpaceKitty]

GPS units don't work the same way as the iPhone does. Once your GPS is stolen, it's gone.

It's a cruel irony: Car navigation devices keep you from getting lost, but their location-sensing acumen won't help you find them if they get lost or stolen. Why not? Because location and tracking are two different matters. "The GPS calculates location for you. Communicating that location to a tracking center requires a separate service," says Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of SiRF Technology, the largest supplier of GPS chips to navigation device makers.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1735091,00.html

It's all explained there.

 

[SpaceKitty]

The iPhone can send it's coordinates outwards. The iPhone has gps. Why can't this work with a TomTom?

ex concerning the iphone

1. There are those apps you can buy that email you the phone's coordinates.

2. AT&T has that protect-your-child plan where you can locate your kids via gps.

That is a different type of GPS, not the same as Garmin or TomTom.

 

[joro]

I was in Philly with my dad today and someone broke into our car and stole his gps. They took some change and other little things, but fortunately didnt find the credit cards or sensitive data. I am going to give TomTom a call tomorrow, but im wondering if anyone here has had any luck recovering a stolen GPS. It wasnt an expensive model, and the insurance will cover it (if they dont its not a problem buying a new one), im just more concerned about finding the jerk that broke into our car.

I had my GPS stolen the day after Christmas last year – yeah, what a dirtbag – and I called Garmin with my Serial and Model Numbers. They told me that some regulation from the government prevented them from “tracking” consumer GPS devices’ location - not that the device couldn't reveal it's location. They actually gave me the information for who I need to contact in government to tell them my story because apparently it’s a common issue. If memory serves me correctly, I think the contact worked for the Department of Defense.