Stealing Your Car May Be Easier Than You Think
VINS Allow For Key Duplication
POSTED: Thursday, October 30, 2003
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Every car -- regardless of its cost, design, and security is vulnerable to a thief, KOCO-TV reported.
By copying the vehicle identification number through an automobile's windshield, thieves can walk into a dealership and buy a key."They prey off the good will of the dealership by acting as a needy consumer who lost their key, and they get the key directly from the dealer," an automobile theft consultant said.The station put that to the test by copying down six VINs and taking them to various automobile dealerships in Oklahoma City.Even without proper identification and vehicle titles, the station was able to get keys made for three vehicles. Three other dealerships refused to make keys without the paperwork.The station suggested placing a piece of paper over the VIN when your car is parked, though the cover should be removed for driving.Urban-legend Web siteSnopes.com warns, however, that some cities ban obscuring the VIN.
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Stealing Your Car May Be Easier Than You ThinkDistributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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