The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: September 2, 2007

Official News - page 8


REAL LIFE NEWS: HOW SATNAVS CAN BETRAY YOU

by Hazed

We all know that relying too heavily on a satnav can cause problems, as it guides you into a river or onto an incomplete bridge. But now it turns out satnavs can do even more damage - they can guide thieves to your home!

Police in the north of England have warned drivers not to leave their journey home programmed into their satnavs, after a recent incident. A car parked at the Alton Towers theme park was broken into and the device was stolen. The thieves then used it to navigate to the owner's Shropshire home where they stole another car, worth £20,000 (approx $40,000).

Detective Sergeant Chris Walsh from the West Mercia police said: "If your car is broken into, particularly if you have an in-built satnav as part of the dashboard, all the offenders have to do is search for 'home' or similar and it will take them right to the door of your empty residence."

He advises that if you must have a saved setting to guide you home, just have it go as far as your home town, where you will be on familiar territory. Don't ever use the postcode.

Better still, of course, is not to leave the satnav in the car while it's parked!


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