[Toobuku]

A friend emailed this to me today, what do you think?

>> Take care of your auto.


>> [You would think the Dealerships would require verification first.
>> (Nah! -- They just want to "serve the customer" so they can make a
>> buck.)]
>>
>> 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.
>>
>>
****************************************************************************
>> *********** We just slipped a 3 x 5 card over the VIN in each car. Now
>> nobody can read it through the windshield. Case closed!!!

 

[Sheniferous]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

It's kind of true:

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

 

[zero]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

You would think a dealership would require some form of ID before just handing over a key to someone.

 

[shovelhd]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Don't you have to have the key tag number to order a replacement key from Honda? Isn't there a "Don't throw this away" warning on the tag?

 

[NotaChevy]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

The police department would frown on the VIN being covered by any method.

A friend emailed this to me today, what do you think?

>> Take care of your auto.


>> [You would think the Dealerships would require verification first.
>> (Nah! -- They just want to "serve the customer" so they can make a
>> buck.)]
>>
>> 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.
>>
>>
****************************************************************************
>> *********** We just slipped a 3 x 5 card over the VIN in each car. Now
>> nobody can read it through the windshield. Case closed!!!

 

[csimo]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Why would a criminal go to so much trouble? It takes about two minutes to steal one the conventional way. Why go thru all these gyrations on something that's pretty easy to start with.

Some of them that wanted to steal them "clean" used to collect keys. There aren't very many different key combinations for most cars. Don't know about the Ridgeline but probably not more than 20 or 30 different keys. There are enough of us that read these messages to guarantee that some of us have duplicate keys.

 

[Long Gone]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

In defense, I know that at least one dealership requires title, registration and DL or other form of picture I.D. I have been involved with customers who have locked themselves out of their vehicle and came for a new key. Because their registration was also in the vehicle, we could not help them. I thought this was standard practice. That's scary.

 

[shingles]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Isn't the RL key's "chipped"?
If that's teh case, even if they got a copy key, it won't start the car unless the ECU was reprogrammed.


Plus, they just tow your car if they REALLY wanted it.

 

[bellteck]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Will make the ones who paid extra for the glass etching of the VIN # on ALL the windows feel much better.

You could always etch a ROC logo over it !! LOL !!

 

[shovelhd]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

And if I really want it back, I've got Lo-Jack.

 

[zero]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Moving over to Miscellaneous . . .

 

[Hodgey]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

I too think the keys have some form of "chip" inside that must be programmed before it will start the car. The key cut by the local parts department would only get you into the vehicle--it shouldn't start it. Can someone else clarify this issue?

 

[shingles]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

I too think the keys have some form of "chip" inside that must be programmed before it will start the car. The key cut by the local parts department would only get you into the vehicle--it shouldn't start it. Can someone else clarify this issue?

If this is the case, it almost certainly is "chipped".
Actually the owners manual should mention this if it's the case. Probably telling you that you have to go to the dealership to get a dup key made or something similar.

 

[Spritegeezer]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

If this is the case, it almost certainly is "chipped".
Actually the owners manual should mention this if it's the case. Probably telling you that you have to go to the dealership to get a dup key made or something similar.

Just wait to see the price ! When my wife got her 99 Accord we asked for an additional key. Price...$135! I don't know if theyre still that much, but that should make you remember to keep your keys with you, not with your golf clubs.

 

[RidgeMe]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Just wait to see the price ! When my wife got her 99 Accord we asked for an additional key. Price...$135! I don't know if theyre still that much, but that should make you remember to keep your keys with you, not with your golf clubs.

I assume this key has the remote door opener built in?

 

[nevadagarth]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Read The First Reply!!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry about this.

 

[Andythanh]

Re: Have you heard this one! Vin#'s and car thives

Actually, even if they do have the vin numbers, they have to actually bring the car in to reprogarm the car. And even so , before bringing the car into the dealership, the key that is made to the theives will not start the car because it is encripted code in the engine. I lost a key before and had to get the right encripted key plus bring the vehicle in to get it reprogramed. FYI only.

 

[Hooha12]

My dealer tried to sell me the $100 VIN# etched into the windows to "help prevent theft" package. After I stopped laughing, I politely declined (and it had nothing to do with this supposition). I also made my last dealer eat the etching when I bought my Tacoma!

 

[BKLYNBOY11]

Can't cover a vin in NY. Besides, it's written on the registration sticker affixed to your windshield.