vin number/theft
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,806
Likes: 70
From: Rochester MN
Originally Posted by mark b
Dudes, stop worrying, get an autolock and lock up your brake pedal...if the thief makes a copy of your ignition key, he can start it, play the radio, and hang out but he won't be able to take your car(undrivable)...unless they flatbed it and that can be pretty noisy and time consuming, or they could tow it...but I have found that the autolock deters thieves...not the club, that is a joke. the autolock is very hard and close to impossible to uninstall because of it's location right under the steering wheel... a multilock works even better but you can't install them in a Vette because of the center tube and the cutting of the center control panel to fit the steel bar under the car...oh well, the autolock costs around 60 bucks...good investment 
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If the dealership is doing what it is supposed to do, they should be asking for identification before doing any key cutting. Perhaps these thiefs have an inside connection to get the key made.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 884
Likes: 1
From: McKinney TX
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
If the dealership is doing what it is supposed to do, they should be asking for identification before doing any key cutting. Perhaps these thiefs have an inside connection to get the key made.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 5
From: CenTex Texas
Originally Posted by Zilla
It doesn't really matter if they get your vin number or not if they want your car they will get it. Secondly if the dealer does their job correctly you would need your insurance and registration and Photo Id to get a key cut.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota, Fl.
A forum member in Tampa had his car stole from his garage when a burglar broke into his house and used his keys to steal the car. The car thief then end up totalling the car and killing himself in the process.
Cool, sometimes they get what's coming to them
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: McDonough GA
I have been running a garage for 15 years. Today I had to diagnose a no start. Turns out the key lock cylinder was bad and it would not read the key (the kind that has the chip on the key). Called the dealer to get a new one with a new key. And for the first time ever, they told me, I had to show ownership before they could sell it to me. I told them I was a garage and it was not my vehicle. They said "Come and get it." So, the word must be out to the dealerships. But still pretty easy to get.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 740
Likes: 149
From: Eastside WA
Best theft deterrent is the Autotaser. They haven't been made for awhile, but still show upon e-bay fairly often. It clamps onto steering wheel and has a motion detector. It is an annoying alarm for 10 seconds and then the 50,000 volts of sparks begin. Yeah, it can probably be defeated, but who would want to try. Only downside is that you shouldn't leave your kid or pet in the car.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Marietta GA
Thanks Rattler. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to help all of us. I will have my vin covered in AM. Atlanta is a hotbed of auto thief. I realize that they will steel it if want it, but they're going to have to work just a little harder. Might give you a chance to catch them.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Said it before and I'll say it again: HIDDEN KILL SWITCH! Anything short of a wrecker and you're not getting mine! (BTW, when I say hidden, I mean well hidden)
Robert
Robert
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 2
From: Havin' fun in Frederick, MD!!!
St. Jude Donor '05 '09
Originally Posted by Rattler71
I ran across an article that tells of thieves who stake out Corvette's in parking lots. They watch to see vettes that are there every day and take down the vin number on the dash. They take that vin number to the dealer to get a new key made. Then drive off with the car. After reading this I took some black sandpaper and cut it so it covers the number. It actually looks neat with the grain of the sandpaper.
Scott
Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,333
Likes: 1
From: VA
St. Jude Donor '03-'11
Originally Posted by Shylor
My local dealership never asked me for my registration or insurance paperwork on a key for a C4. But they did need my key to get the correct resistance and to cut the key with.
And as someone else said, a hidden kill switch is very good protection, unless of course, you have the column lock.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 673
Likes: 1
From: Pembroke Pines Florida
Originally Posted by lemansbleu2004
Why sandpaper? Why not just a piece of paper, or electrical tape or worse yet, duct tape (Quack quack)?
Scott
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Just North of E Town Madness
Originally Posted by Zilla
It doesn't really matter if they get your vin number or not if they want your car they will get it. Secondly if the dealer does their job correctly you would need your insurance and registration and Photo Id to get a key cut.
Just my .02
Just my .02
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by BigMacNYC
When you live in NY the VIN is on your registration sticker, which is stuck on the window 
Welcome to NY!! 
Welcome to NY!! 