Global Positioning System unit theft has drastically increased as more people buy the handheld devices and leave them in vehicles, Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said.

The F.B.I. recently released statistics which showed a 700 percent increase in GPS thefts from 2006 to the end of 2008. Many people that have GPS units in their car often times leave them in plain view. “Thieves find them an easy target because they’re easy to conceal and there is high demand for them on the consumer market,” said Jackson. The Roanoke Rapids Police department has noticed an increase in reported GPS thefts. “We have investigated 43 car break-ins since the first of 2010 with over a dozen GPS units stolen and even worse, GPS thefts are often smash-a-window and grab style robberies resulting in high repair cost.

GPS thefts can and do happen in areas you might consider safe. “In short, the quick $25 to $35 street value of a stolen GPS is a very tempting target for thieves. The police department encourages everyone to remove your GPS from its mounting point and take it along with you. That includes the mounting bracket and power cord.

“If you can’t take it with you then remove it from sight. You need to make sure that you store the serial number of your GPS soon after purchase. You will also want to remove other valuables like iPods, cell phones and pocketbooks.”

Jackson said the police department is putting fourth every effort to curtail car break-ins with extra foot patrols, use of undercover vehicles and decoy cars. “We encourage the public to report any suspicious activity you hear or see.”