Check this out and beware.



Seems that car thieves have found yet another way to
steal your car or truck without any effort at all. The
car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or
truck, write down the VIN # (Vehicle Id Number)from
the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership
and request a duplicate key based on the VIN #.
I didn't believe this, so I called a friend at
Chrysler Dodge and pretended I had lost my keys. They
told me to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cut
me one on the spot, and I could order the keyless
device if I wanted.
The Car Dealer's Parts Department will make a
duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from
the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't have
to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw
attention to himself. All he has to do is walk up to
your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local
Chop Shop with your vehicle.
You don't believe it? It IS that easy.
To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some
opaque tape(electrical tape, duct tape or medical
tape) across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash
board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN, cover it so
it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car
thief.
I slipped a 3 x 5 card over the VIN #
I urge you to forward this to your friends before some
other car thief steals another car or truck.

 

My buddy got a ticket for covering his VIN in that way

 

Well,

I should do more research about this.. but I just got this information from the Operational Manager of a local Mall.
But then again, how could we avoid such a mess?

 

theyve been doing that for a couple years now... most dealers dont even check if you own the car when they make a key.

 

I'll ask my uncle (Union City PD) what we, car owners, can do to protect our VIN numbers.

 

What did he get written up for? I'm not doubting - just curious. I can understand that it is illegal to remove it, but why is it illegal to cover it temporarily? Maybe for parking tickets?

 

sweet time to start stealing some cars

 

I see no evidence in the 2005 VC that allows for this, nor is there a named citation.

Do you know the exact citation he got?

 

I've heard that before too that you cannot cover up the vin#. I'd like to find out too. If you cant, just change the locks. I'll swap mine to yours.

 

Well, I just confirmed that it is OK to cover the number as long as you have plates. This is from a friend that gives tickets for a living.

 

What's the big deal? I though it takes seconds to open any car door if you have proper tools. Getting a duplicate key sounds like a lot of effort...

 

if you have taken your car to get smogged i heard that they can get the lic. number and get the vin that way. its like people say, if someone wants it bad enough, they'll get it. I HATE THIEVES!!! earn the money to buy nice sh*t like the rest of us!!! i cant stand stupid *** people!!!! i wish we could do stuff like in africa with flame throwers and sh*t under the car to fry the bas*ard when they try to steal it!!!!

 

uh they have been stealing cars like this for ever.... especially the type R (you know the real ones) and cadillac escalades (for there front ends)

new=no more and more common=yes
edgar,

 

sounds about right to me.

I got a ticket from good old BART police for that. I had my vin covered but I didn't have plates. My car was parked legally and what not but they couldn't identify it. Pissed me off. Bums have enough time to check the vin of every car without plates in the whole lot but they don't have time to stop people from breaking into cars and kidnapping women? Go figure.

Stupid bastard thieves have gotten me a couple times at BART and got my buddy when he was parked right next to me once. Freaks me out man. I hate parking at bart.

 

theives have been doing this for ages.. most honda/acura dealers require you to bring valid registration/id now. dunno about other dealership..