VIN # & Car Thieves

bmw046series

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#1
Not sure if true or not but easy enough to prevent.
Subject: Car Thieves


It seems 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 # 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 a friend at Chrysler-Dodge and
pretended I had lost my keys. He 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 and steal it. 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 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, but you can cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

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

I just slipped a 3 x 5 card over the VIN in each car. Now nobody can read it through the windshield. Case closed!!!


Aren't German cars the hardest to steal?
 
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#2
NOT TRUE WITH BMW's!!!

BMW dealers should require proof of registration and ID before they'll give you a duplicate key. They also need to order the keys from Germany. So, it's not like a thief could just walk up to a dealer, wait a few minutes, and come back out with a key to your car.

Also, many places will tow or ticket your car if the meter maid or whatever officer tries to look at your VIN and it's blocked.
 

Big Daddy

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#4
All dealers are supposed to require a registration and photo Id in the name of the registered owner before cutting a duplicate key from a VIN. Codex is right, BMW does do this I know because I had to order a new key. My local GM dealer did as well when I went to get another key for my pickup. He is also correct about covering the VIN, and in many cases if someone gets your plate number they can get your registration information, including your VIN.
 

bmw046series

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#5
Well Wisconsin's Wonderful open records laws if you are prosecuted in the circuit court system (or get a ticket), your records are posted on their web-site and in some cases your plate number is posted on there.
 

epj3

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#6
bmw046series said:
Well Wisconsin's Wonderful open records laws if you are prosecuted in the circuit court system (or get a ticket), your records are posted on their web-site and in some cases your plate number is posted on there.
I believe that's in most states you can access that information? Just not so easy to find in other states.
 
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#7
bmw046series said:
Well Wisconsin's Wonderful open records laws if you are prosecuted in the circuit court system (or get a ticket), your records are posted on their web-site and in some cases your plate number is posted on there.
Yup. I can get all sorts of personal info from someone's license plate if they're from certain states. Kinda surprised at that, but maybe that's cuz I'm from Cali where we don't allow that and we're not all that friendly with each other (we lock our doors).
 


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