- Note - This is in circulation on the net and seems worthy
of attention. -ed
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- It seems that car thieves have found another way to steal
your car or truck without any effort at all.
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- The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car
or truck, write down the VIN number from the label on the dash, go to the
local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN number.
The car dealer's parts dept will make a duplicate key from the VIN number
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 to 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 label located on the dash
board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN number, but you can cover it so
it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.
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- Is It True? Snopes says... maybe!
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- http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp
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-
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- Comment
From Dillin
11-6-3
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- I read the article about the car theft by using the VIN
numbers. In the Chicago area, information is floating around that twenty-five
Saturn Vues have been stolen. They were all sold at the same dealership.
I'm a concerned Vue owner. I just bought mine from this dealership that
is in question. I have already started covering my VIN number with an empty
CD jewel case when ever I park in public parking lots. I also have a Club
steering wheel locking bar. I'm looking into other types of security devices.I
am thinking about changing my door locks and keys completely, to be outside
of the Saturn key system. I'm also looking at car alarms to scare people
off.
-
- Another possibility is installing a fuel cut off switch
in a location that only I know about. The Vue has a cut off system, but
that has been compromised, if someone can get a key for the vehicle. I
want to have about three layers of protection that anyone would have to
work their way through to get my vehicle. I don't know if the theft was
an inside job by a Saturn employee.
-
- I want to make it such a hassle to steal the vehicle,
that they will give up, or walk by completely right in the beginning. I
want something that would take more than an hour for anyone to get through.
Something that might give me time to call the police. This vehicle is being
put in my garage with the Club in use every night. Right there it is going
to be difficult for anyone to get it. The garage is part of shared garages
that aren't marked in any way to indicate who owns what garage. It is an
automatic door. I can not leave my vehicle out over night. These Vues were
stolen right off the owner's properties.
-
- Sure, the keys could be cut by VIN number at the car
security sales places. The Joe on the street would have to figure out where
I went to change the door locks and keys. Now my vehicle would be outside
that "master" key system that Saturn has.
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- Most people trust the employees at the dealership. Is
it safe to hand over your car and then sit in their waiting room where
you can't watch what is going on. They should have a glass window waiting
room, where people can watch the work on their vehicle. The key cutting
facility should be in this area too.
-
- If this is true, then I wish Saturn would tell the Vue
owners in the Chicago area that this has happened. We shouldn't have our
warranties voided, because we should have a right to seek other security,
since our security was compromised. We paid for that fuel cut off security
in the price tag of the vehicle. Now that is compromised.
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- You could be helpful in getting Saturn to make a statement
in our area, if you post this information and force Saturn to speak up.
Saturn should know that news is on the street, if this incident really
did happen. I'm glad I got a warning from a friend in the auto parts business
who over heard about the thefts while waiting up at that Saturn dealership
that is in question.
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-
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- Comment
- From Jonathan & Katherine Weis
- 11-6-3
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- Not so fast ..... I repair cars for a living,
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- The newer ones are quite difficult to get into if you
dont have the key, as times I have had a door lock on me and keys in ignition.
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- Slim Jimm kits and such even the professional ones dont
work so well on certain models.
- Had me doing the get the vin, drive 60 miles to the dealer
and guess what.
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- I have yet to have a dealer vin replacement key work.
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- That's a fact.
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- Only in the movies.
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- Comment
- From Marilyn A. Guinnane
- 11-7-3
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- Jeff - It's a heck of a lot easier to simply remove the
license plate frames telling a prospective thief where you bought the vehicle.
Your plates don't need a frame.
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-
- Comment
- From P. Farrell
- 11-7-3
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- This is largely an urban myth. I work for a new car dealer.
We do not make keys off serial numbers without proof of ownership ie.state
issued title with drivers license matching owner. Most new car dealers
observe this practice here in Minnesota.
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