Theft - Another One

[svHyLyte]

I suggest you replace the broken panel and, instead of flush-mounting your replacement plotter, use the C-shaped mounting frame that comes with the unit. With that and the quick-connect fittings for the power/data cable and antenna, you can remove the plotter when you are not aboard the boat. On our boat we actually have the chart-plotter "flush mounted" but all that holds it in the panel is industrial grade velcro on the back (of course, we don't have anything else mounted on the panel). When we leave the boat we pull out the plotter, disconnect the antenna lead and quick-connect fitting and stick the thing below.

There are other options of course including making a cover that can be locked over the entire panel but being able to simply remove the equipment will be the most fool proof.

Whatever you decide, I suggest you contact Garmin to report the equipment stolen. In that way if anyone attempts to use the automatic up-date feature, their system will detect the unit and the IP Address of the user. From there it's not that hard to track down the user although he/she may, by that time, be a buyer of "second hand" equipment.

FWIW...

[captainKJ]

Check out the local pawn shop, had 18k worth of cameras stolen 2 years ago, had all the serial numbers,,, the crack head sold everything tot he pawn around the corner, 1/4 mile away,,,, as i was gone on vacation for over 30 days the pawn shop sold it,,,,l insurance paid off, police caught the guy,,,nothing happened,,,, he said he did not know it was stolen,,, any item taken into a pawn shop has 30 days to clear BEFORE it can be sold,,, if you have a serial number give it to the police,,, they put it into the data base,,, it can show up at a pawn shop across the country,,

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by captainKJ

if you have a serial number give it to the police,,, they put it into the data base,,,
,,

Done.
Last week.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

I suggest you replace the broken panel and, instead of flush-mounting your replacement plotter, use the C-shaped mounting frame that comes with the unit. With that and the quick-connect fittings for the power/data cable and antenna, you can remove the plotter when you are not aboard the boat. On our boat we actually have the chart-plotter "flush mounted" but all that holds it in the panel is industrial grade velcro on the back (of course, we don't have anything else mounted on the panel). When we leave the boat we pull out the plotter, disconnect the antenna lead and quick-connect fitting and stick the thing below.

There are other options of course including making a cover that can be locked over the entire panel but being able to simply remove the equipment will be the most fool proof.

Whatever you decide, I suggest you contact Garmin to report the equipment stolen. In that way if anyone attempts to use the automatic up-date feature, their system will detect the unit and the IP Address of the user. From there it's not that hard to track down the user although he/she may, by that time, be a buyer of "second hand" equipment.

FWIW...

I will check into the quick disconnect mount.

Garmin has the info now too but would not answer direct questions about what they would do if someone with that unit contacted them.

I did updates with a card from home to the boat. How is it directly linked to Garmin? The manual is a total piece of schintcrapsuckschnizzle.

[IdoraKeeper]

I feel for you. The only place I would feel more violated than my home would be my boat.

[maxingout]

We were staying in a guarded marina just south of Fort Lauderdale a couple of years ago, and thieves hit a power yacht taking a fancy chart plotter in just the same way. That's the downside of Craigs list and Ebay. You can easily flog off stolen merchandise. You don't even need to go to a pawn shop.

The ease of selling things online encourages people to go into business of stealing specialized items. In the Phoenix area, one thief specialized in stealing and marketing swimming pool cleaners. The cleaners typically cost about $400 for a new pool cleaning device, and the thieves walk into backyards in broad daylight, unhook the cleaner from the hose, and put it in their vehicle. They instantly have $200 cash for each one they harvest and market on ebay. The police arrested one dude who had stolen more than 100 pool cleaners.

It's a sign of the times. Times are changing. Whatever happened to self respect?

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by Therapy

The manual is a total piece of schintcrapsuckschnizzle.

I've been looking for a unique boat name... "Schintcrapsuckschnizzle"

.... what do ya think??

[sww914]

Sorry to hear this.
We all need to be more careful now. Somebody that might have only stolen something that was really easy 5 years ago is willing to put a bit more effort in to it now.
I remember in the early 80's everyone was having gas stolen out of their cars. Locking gas caps became popular and the economy improved and I haven't heard of any gas being stolen for years.
Times were kind of hard and it was easy to steal gas. It got a little harder and they moved on to the next car. I'll bet your boat will be the hard one to steal from next time, lots of good advice here.

[ooitn]

Can you make or design something like a "plug n play" panel, so that you can easily reomve it and kept below deck when you are out again next time?

Worry that same thing happen again....that' bad.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Thanks.
Me too but it won't help fast enough. We had planned a two week cruise starting this Wednesday.

That totally sux!



2 ways of dealing with the pain: 1) read a few gun threadsa and get all heated up. 2) Let it go and find a way to enjoy as many of those cruising days as you can Might be able to borrow a handheld gps?

Don't let the bastards get you down

[Patient]

Wow! That is horrible.

Maybe you can fabricate a Dummy cover with just a cheap compass on it that goes over that entire panel when you are away. I have something similar in my vintage BMW, an ancient radio from the 60s that is just the front part glued on a plastic piece with velcro that covers my Alpine system.

[bstreep]

A way to check craigslist all over the country: claz.org - Classifieds Search

[ILikeRust]

Scumbags that do things like that deserve to be beaten soundly about the head with a two by four. I'm serious. I HATE seeing stuff like that.

And of course the law in the U.S. is that you can't set boobie traps for lowlife dirtbags like that. Otherwise, I would recommend hooking up a 240V circuit to the panel and only you know where the kill switch is. When you leave the boat, activate the circuit, and when the creep lays his hands on the panel, it shocks his a$$ across the cockpit.

[Ruf361]

you can boobie trap, as long as the trap includes a way to dispose of the body.

Anyone know of a trap that involves cinder blocks...

[Cormorant]

Originally Posted by Therapy

... They said that the cameras are useless as the thieves know to wear hoods and such.

Someone should invent the millimeter-wave radar motion-activated security camera. Isn't that the airport scan technology that sees through your clothes? Then, you can not only catch the thief, you can also post his nekkid pictures online for a good public shaming.