you should see what's happening to rental ebikes and scooters in SF. I've got a giant pile of hub bldc motors and battery packs I've picked up off the street that the scrappers left. all of those had gps and were ostensibly only unlockable with the service.

I don't see any way the rental company is going to stop that. its certainly not like the police here are going to be anything but abusive if you called them about a bike or scooter that you left out for anyone to get at.