Car thief trick to worry about..

pwd72s · 04-17-2003, 07:10 PM

I recently got this in an email. Why do I think it's true? Several years ago, Cindy & I found the young mother who lives next door on our doorstep. She was in a panic because she'd locked her keys in her small Chevrolet, and her baby was in the back seat, confined to his safety seat. I tried all the old coathanger tricks, and none worked. Then I thought of the VIN#...wrote it down, told the tale to the local GM dealer. The cut key was waiting for us (Cindy stayed by the car, waving & talking to the baby) when the young mother & I arrived. I live in a small town, perhaps the dealership knew me. But no ID or proof of car ownership was asked for.
I'd suggest a modification of the VIN covering though...the bill of a baseball cap "tossed" on the dash. You'd then have no problem showing the VIN to the proper authorities, but it wouldn't make these authorities suspicious like covering with tape or a card would... Be careful out there, guys... Paul

What next? If there any potential car thieves out there that haven't thought of this trick yet , this mail will give them food for thought - Oh well, if they want the car bad enough to steal it, they will get it on way or another - I know three or four members of my family that I won't tell about this - Cheers, Dick Original Message -----
From: XXXX XXXXX
To: undisclosed-recipients
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 12:53 PM
Subject: Simply Thievery (from Betty)

Not sure if this is true but.....

Subject: Simply Thievery (from Betty)

Apparently car thieves have yet again found a way around the system and 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 number from the label on the dash, go into the local
dealership for that car brand and request a duplicate key for it from the
VIN number.

Car dealerships make up a duplicate key from the VIN number, collect payment from the 'customer' who's really a would-be car thief for making up the duplicate key -- the car thief goes back to your vehicle, inserts the key they've just gotten and off they drive with your car or truck. They don't have to break in, don't have to damage the vehicle and draw no attention to themselves as all they have to do is to walk up to your car, insert the key and off they go to their chop shop with your vehicle!!! Can you believe it?

To avoid this from happening to you, simply put opaque tape (like a strip of electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) or just place a simple index card over the VIN label located on the dash board. You can't remove the VIN number legally under most state laws, so cover it so that it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

dean · 04-18-2003, 04:46 AM

Porsche asked me for the Reg. when I got a master key from them.

Robert Coats · Robert Coats's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
Car dealerships make up a duplicate key from the VIN number

This does not seem plausible. I can't imagine any modern vehicle manufacturer that would make it this easy to obtain a key. Can anyone actually verify this is possible?

I can attest to the fact that Ford vehicles are supplied with a seperate stamped metal key I.D. plate (totally different frrom the VIN). This plate was on the keyring with the keys when I bought the vehicles. A small instruction card said I'd need the plate to obtain a replacement key.

Rot 911 · 04-18-2003, 05:46 AM

This is a not so new idea for those wanting to steal your car. I have a book called the "Porsche Owner's Companion" dated 1981 that discusses ways theives steal cars including getting the VIN and having a key made.

RPMClassic · 04-18-2003, 05:58 AM

I have never seen a dealership provide a key without a copy of a license and registration, but thats just been my experience. I love the baseball cap idea too, however in our state the DMV prints the license plate # as well as the car Vin # on the state inspection sticker. These are required to be promently affixed to pass side windscreen. BIG brother definately controls things in this state!

masraum · 04-18-2003, 06:28 AM

Alarm with an ignition or fuel kill, with the key you would still need quite some time to figure out how to get the motor running again unless you were pretty familiar with our cars.

Jdub · 04-18-2003, 06:29 AM

Any dealership that did that without due diligence would be paying me for equiv. replacement.

I am sure I would win this in court.

John

MotoSook · 04-18-2003, 06:32 AM

Take your fuel pump relay with you when in a bad neighorhood. Or take your coil plug wire with you...just remember to put the wire back in and not sit there cranking at 4 in the morning after you leave a club with a hot date...ah those youthful days

osidak · 04-18-2003, 06:36 AM

Back in 97 my wife locked herself out of her car. She called me and told what happened. I asked her to write the VIN down and walk across the street to the dealer. She explained what happend. They asked to see some ID. She told them it was locked in her. The car was still under warranty so they cut a key and gave it to her, No Charge No ID. She was back in action in under 30 minutes.

It can happen

Schuey · 04-18-2003, 07:10 AM

It can happen...many times the thieves have an "inside" guy they're paying for the keys at multiple locations...

adscab · 04-18-2003, 08:01 AM

Finally, a reason to love the immobilizer in my 993!

osidak · 04-18-2003, 08:09 AM

Not sure about Porsche but there are ways around the immobilizer in Volkswagen as long as you have a laptop and Vag-Com (OBDII software)

rick conrath · 04-18-2003, 08:10 AM

At the local condo parking deck, someone would break into a car and not take anything. What they discovered was that the patient car thief was getting ID #'s and having a new key made to match the car and to bypass the alarm system. They would come back later, let themself in and drive away.

old_skul · 04-18-2003, 08:15 AM

You know, my Uncle was tragically killed in Nigeria recently. He had a lot of money, and I need to get it out of the country somehow...

jrdavid68 · 04-18-2003, 08:20 AM

Mark,

I have some wet property in Florida that your Uncle's estate could purchase.....

jrdavid68 · 04-18-2003, 08:45 AM

And here's a story on MSNBC.com with a new twist to the Nigerian scams..

http://www.msnbc.com/news/900824.asp?0dm=C12PT

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

About 5 years ago I pulled the tumbler out while taking key out of ignition. Tiny springs poped out. Was I stuck? Nope! Stuck a screw driver in there and off I went. Easiest damn car to steal in my mind as long as wheel is not locked. Saab asked me for my pink slip and license when I needed a new key cut. But I could easily see someone behind a parts counter giving in and cutting one without any info.

pwd72s · 04-18-2003, 10:01 AM

The local GM dealer here asked for no ID...but I did give my name when I called. I also bought a a couple of new cars from them, back in '65, again in '66. Both GTO's...probably easier to do in a small town like Lebanon, OR than in a big city.

john70t · 04-18-2003, 10:34 AM

There's the saying that if they want it bad enough, they will get it.

I heard of someone parking a Camero on the lawn and putting a heavy-duty chain aroung the axle and a small tree. The guy cut down the tree, pushed the car down the street, and towed it away.

I'd say conspicuous location, alarm with a pager, fuel/ignition bugs, pedal lock, lights and camera pointing out window at vehicle, boxing it in with another car all will help.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

When I had a local dealer (a dealer in Tysons Corner we all hate around here) cut me some new keys, they asked for license and reg. even before they did the job. When they called to say the keys were ready, I asked if my girlfriend could pick them up for me and they said no. They asked for my license and reg. again when I came to pick up.