By JEFF LIPTON
The number of thefts of GPS devices from cars continues to climb, including within the boundaries of the 4th Precinct, where, in recent works, some unlucky car owners have seen the systems disappear almost as quickly as they are installed.
From Feb. 10 through Feb. 23, police said, 16 GPS systems were reported stolen from vehicles in the 4th Precinct, mainly from cars parked in Oceanside, Island Park and the Five Towns. Alarmed by the frequency of the crime, Nassau County police officials held a press conference to urge drivers to secure the hottest commodity among today-s thieves, their GPS systems.
The word apparently has failed to reach many motorists, who have either ignored the warning or believe their GPS-s are safe in their cars parked in front of their homes. It was in front of my house that takes a lot of audacity, said 28-year-old Pete Randel, whose 2003 Mitsubishi Gallant was broken into on Anchor Avenue in Oceanside sometime after 10 p.m. on Feb. 19, and his GPS was swiped. I knew they were being taken, but I didn-t think of it as a problem in Oceanside. I live on a pretty quiet block, across from a church.
Randel said he is considering not replacing the device because of the general annoyance he experienced when it was stolen. He said he was forced to miss work to repair a shattered window and to clean up the glass mess that was left behind. It was such a hassle that I-m contemplating not replacing it, he said. I lost a whole day of work. I want to be able to come home and go to sleep and not have to worry about it being stolen every time. I don-t think it-s worth it.
Randel said he removed the system from view after parking his car at work in New Jersey, but did not think he had to safeguard it in his Oceanside neighborhood, where he has lived for about a year.
One woman, who identified herself only as Laura, said her husband-s car was broken into on Vian Avenue in Hewlett on Feb. 14 at about 8 a.m., and the GPS and his sunglasses were stolen. She said she noticed a group of four or five teens acting suspiciously on her block between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. days before the break-in and called police, but the teens left before police arrived.
It was really frightening, the woman said. They went up to cars and tried to open them. I was surprised at my husband because he knew not to leave [the GPS] on the dashboard. A crime like that is really aggravating.
It seems like such an easy crime to commit, she added. It-s like an invitation by leaving it on the dashboard. It-s a grab-and-run.
Police said they are so alarmed by the number of GPS thefts that they are leaving notes on windshields of cars parked at shopping centers and train stations urging their owners to remove the GPS from view. They urge owners of the devices to wipe away the smudge mark left by a GPS-s suction cup, because when thieves see it, they will breaking into vehicles to search glove compartments and consoles.
We urge them to help out the police department and not leave that in plain sight, said officer Robin Webb, a crime analyst for the 4th Precinct. Don-t tempt criminals. [Car owners] could also help themselves by taking the smudge mark off with [rubbing] alcohol.
Webb said that thefts of the GPS usually skyrocket at the beginning of the year because drivers receive them as gifts during the holidays. Police officials said they were a particularly popular gift this past holiday season, which helps explain why the number of GPS thefts in Nassau County jumped from 44 in January 2007 to 211 in January 2008. The comparisons for February were not yet available as of press time.
Detective Vincent Garcia, a police spokesman, said, It-s a crime that is just really easy. He said that stolen systems, which cost anywhere from $150 to $700, are being resold at much lower prices. He advised drivers to take the time to secure their systems. A little prevention goes a long way, Garcia said. Why make it easy for the thieves?
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com
