Garmin, and other GPS makers, should give buyers the ability to "brick"stolen GPSs. If a registered GPS device is stolen, you should be able to remotely turn it into a worthless brick. Also, if it's tethered to a cellphone, they should give you the ability to track it's location.

Our building (a walk-up) in Paulus Hook was broken into on Thursday. Two apartments were hit. So annoying. For good or for ill, I'm on the fifth floor. I guess I'm too many stairs up to merit a break-in.

I don't remember, honestly. If I leave the car for an extended period of time, I always lock up. My wife was going in and out, too. And eventually one of us took it to find a parking spot. Between the bags, the screaming kids, etc, was it possible that the car was left unlocked for five minutes? Yes. It's just that I know I had it earlier that day (6/2), and just realized it wasn't in the glovebox today.

That's why I wonder if I hadn't misplaced the damn thing somewhere. But I tore the car apart looking for it, and it's not in the house, as far as I can tell. I don't see any telltale signs of entry, either. It's weird.

So the car was unlocked as you made your trips up to your place?

It was a Garmin Nuvi 1450.

Yeah, I know, I know. Woulda, shoulda, coulda brought the GPS inside, but it was in my glovebox. There was no visible evidence that I had one (visible cords, suction cup rings). I also have no idea how they entered the car (no broken windows, etc.). My only thought is that someone must have run up while I was taking multiple trips to-and-from my double-parked car while unloading it in front of my house from a weekend trip. Hell, it could simply be misplaced, but I doubt it (I'll retract this message if that ends up to be true).

It appears the thief had rustled through my emergency roadside kit and took the box cutter, as well.