warning! vehicle theft heads up.

bockster

i recieved this email circular today, i am going to assume it is true and pass this knowledge on to yourselves. hope it helps.
apologies if it is old info.



VIN NUMBER - WARNING

Here is INFO worth the price of your car.... WHAT WILL
the car thieves THINK OF NEXT?


The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car
or vehicle, write down the VIN # 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 e-mail, so I called 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? Do What I Did, Call Your Dealer
and ask for a duplicate key and See what happens

It IS that EASY.

To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some
dark tape (electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN
Number Metal Label
located on the dashboard.

By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you CAN cover it
so it can't be
viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

I urge you to forward this to your friends before some
other car thief steals another car or truck.

I slipped a 3x5 card over my VIN NUMBER.

PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
NOW!!!!!

boliston

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_car_thieves_vin.htm

SailorSam

I think if thieves are going to all that trouble they're going to aim their efforts at the top end of the market to resell the car.
Aren't figures supposed to be falling for stolen cars by the opportunist because they are so much more difficult to steal with modern security.

globalds

Well that one got shot down pretty fast

Debt_Free_Chick

The label on the dash ....?????

bockster

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

The label on the dash ....?????

yes, the very bottom n/s corner usually, if not allways.

dacouch

There was a gang that were convicted last year who were stealing high end cars by selecting their cars and then writing to the DVLA for a duplicate log book and advising them of a change of address. When they got the log book they were able to obtain duplicate keys from the dealership and were able to steal the car.

Apparantly the DVLA changed they processes to reduce the chances of this happening after they were convicted

bockster

SailorSam wrote: »

I think if thieves are going to all that trouble they're going to aim their efforts at the top end of the market to resell the car.
Aren't figures supposed to be falling for stolen cars by the opportunist because they are so much more difficult to steal with modern security.

1, how do i know thats lots of people on here don't have top end cars worth protecting?
2, who says figures are falling, i would treat this statement with as much sceptisim as some may treat this method of vehicle theft.
3, cars are more difficult to steal with modern security, so why not just walk into a dealership and buy a key?

i'm not saying this email is gospel, just thought it worth mentioning, if i thought i could stop the slightest chance of my motor being nicked just by obscuring the vin on the dash i would

Tucker

Hoax................ worry about something worthy of worry!

harveybobbles

• Using the key in the door might trigger the alarm off.
• Without they key being chipped/tuned to the car all the scumbag could do is push/tow it away.
• The said scumbag will probably be thick enough to pay for the key using their debit card...

vikingaero

Everytime I've ordered a new key from a dealership, I've been asked for the V5C, driving licence and sometimes additional utility bills. The only time I've never been asked is when I've ordered an additional remote key at the time of purchasing the vehicle.

Why would a thief risk turning up at a dealership to buy a key knowing that they have handed over ID and being on CCTV?