I've often wondered if i could hide an old iphone and connect it to the 12V charger and when the thief plugs up his electricity I could "find my Friend". I know the phone would need a chip and service, but could there be a cheap phone that you could track some other way?
The sad thing at least in our city is the police won't do anything if you find it.
Our daughter's house was broken into. Police came and report was filed. Laptop, ipad, game systems all had find my device and they followed it to a home a few streets away. Funny thing was there was a Department of Parole car in the driveway......history here?? The police would not do anything saying my daughter could have sold these devices then reported them stolen. Accident report, police saw ransacked house with broken window, parole officer visiting house where devices ping, but nothing. We know someone else who had the exact same thing happen.
It might be different with a titled vehicle, but our experience was very frustrating.