Here’s the way to hack a lost pin: Most people are going to use their home or work as their “secret place”. When you steal it, make sure it’s at their home or work, then turn it on so you can change the pin. For everyone else, use something besides your home and work as your secret place.

Did you forget the pin you put into your GPS unit? Did you also forget the secret place you installed in case you lose your pin? Yeah, right, of course you did. If you really did, you’re pretty much out of luck. Unless you actually call the manufacturer and send it back there is no way to hack a lost pin for any GPS units.

GPS units are the hottest thing stolen from cars right now and there’s no sign of slowing down. Even if you have a GPS unit you have to input a pin when you turn the unit on, thieves can’t tell if your unit is locked or not. Then it’s gone. It’s worthless to the thief, but it’s still gone.

What can you do so your GPS unit doesn’t become a fancy paperweight on a thief’s desk? (Do thieves have desks?)

Take it with you. Even if you take it out of the bracket that’s still on the window, you don’t think some idiot thief isn’t going to think to look in your glove box or under your seat?

Register the unit when you buy it with the manufacturer. Most have a website to make registration fast and painless. At least you can report it to the manufacturer in case the thief tries to send it back to have the pin reset.

If you insist on leaving it in the car, at least take the bracket down and CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. If you don’t, you might as well leave everything in plain sight.

Garmin 770