Had a wierd situation at a car show.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 43
Likes: 21
Had a wierd situation at a car show.
Went to a local Saturday drive in car show deal. Parked the Z and walked around looking at other cars. Across the way I seen a teenage girl snap a pic of the VIN on the dash and nothing else. She was with a middle aged couple. Later on I see the three of them again at the back of the car and the middle aged woman and the teen girl snapped pics of my license plate and nothing else. Is this something to worry about? I know it's public info but felt really wierd. Steal it, claim I hit them in the car, do some title shenanigans?
Popular Reply
May 10, 2026, 04:39 AM
Racer
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 376
Likes: 319
From: Texas
If it were me I would have gotten pics of them and followed them to see what car they came in to get a pic of their license plate. That way if they did end up stealing the car, you have something to give to the police.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 983
Likes: 250
From: San Jose CA
Isn't your address private? I don't think you can legally get someone's address from their license plate. that would be a HUGE safety issue, especially in road rage incidents.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,298
Likes: 957
From: Carlsbad Ca
Might want to slip a business card over your VIN under the windshield, to avoid this in the future....blank side up.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 376
Likes: 319
From: Texas
If it were me I would have gotten pics of them and followed them to see what car they came in to get a pic of their license plate. That way if they did end up stealing the car, you have something to give to the police.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonvville, Florida
If it were me I would have gotten pics of them and followed them to see what car they came in to get a pic of their license plate. That way if they did end up stealing the car, you have something to give to the police.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
Until then, get a throttle controller with the kill switch ability and stay strapped. Them getting pics of just those things is fishy as hell. They're up to something.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 399
From: Bmore Maryland
Also consider using a Faraday pouch to store your keys when your car is parked at home or when you are out and about, for instance at a restaurant, movie, car show etc.... Thieves, working in pairs, can steal your car by having one individual stand near you and transmit your FOB signal to the other person near your car with a receiver to open and start your car. This happened to a friend of mine. While he and his wife were eating at a restaurant in Virginia. His Ferrari was stolen. The faraday pouch blocks the signal on your FOB so it can't be transmitted.
Bottom line with more introduction of technology in cars, it is making it easier for car theives.
Last edited by meflyfrc; May 11, 2026 at 09:34 AM. Reason: spelling
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,186
Likes: 1,765
Is this like a weekly cruise night or one time only? If weekly go back and see if you can spot these people again and I would ask them why they were taking a picture of your VIN. It would also put them on notice you know something is up.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 570
Likes: 557
Went to a local Saturday drive in car show deal. Parked the Z and walked around looking at other cars. Across the way I seen a teenage girl snap a pic of the VIN on the dash and nothing else. She was with a middle aged couple. Later on I see the three of them again at the back of the car and the middle aged woman and the teen girl snapped pics of my license plate and nothing else. Is this something to worry about? I know it's public info but felt really wierd. Steal it, claim I hit them in the car, do some title shenanigans?
Did you happen to notice if they rolled up in a black Suburban?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 983
Likes: 250
From: San Jose CA
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 62
From: WA
Using VIN and duplicating the key is happening more frequently. It is normally car theft rings/groups that are using this method. They get the VIN and purchase a duplicate key fob via black market. It can take a couple weeks for them to get the key FOB. During the wait, they obtain the address, via black market, scout the location to plan the theft of the car. Most cars stolen in the US end up in a shipping container headed OCONUS. As mentioned above, the soler performance module has a kill switch capability so the car won't start. I have it installed on my car and I also cover my VIN.
Also consider using a Faraday pouch to store your keys when your car is parked at home or when you are out and about, for instance at a restaurant, movie, car show etc.... Thieves, working in pairs, can still your car but having one individual stand near you and transmit your FOB signal to the other person near your car with a receiver to open and start your car. This happened to a friend of mine. While he and his wife were eating at a restaurant in Virginia. His Ferrari was stolen. The faraday pouch blocks the signal on your FOB so it can't be transmitted.
Bottom line with more introduction of technology in cars, it is making it easier for car theives.
Also consider using a Faraday pouch to store your keys when your car is parked at home or when you are out and about, for instance at a restaurant, movie, car show etc.... Thieves, working in pairs, can still your car but having one individual stand near you and transmit your FOB signal to the other person near your car with a receiver to open and start your car. This happened to a friend of mine. While he and his wife were eating at a restaurant in Virginia. His Ferrari was stolen. The faraday pouch blocks the signal on your FOB so it can't be transmitted.
Bottom line with more introduction of technology in cars, it is making it easier for car theives.
Spot on....I'll cover my VIN going forward as I frequent cars and coffee meets.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 118
Likes: 26
I don’t use my home address on any vehicle registrations in over 30 years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 1,795
From: Mandalore
This guy says the VIN can be reprogrammed via the OBD-II port. I imagine entering your original VIN could be part of the VIN overwriting procedure. Then the thieves wouldn't have to wait for new keys as they'd already have keys for the reprogrammed VIN. The video is actually about an OBD-II port lock which I happened to buy and install as a theft-deterrent.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 820
From: South Alabama
Don’t want to derail the main topic of the thread, but I did want to clear up a small piece of misinformation so nobody ends up with the wrong expectations about the product.
The Soler Performance Bluetooth throttle controller is not a kill switch and it does not prevent the vehicle from starting.
What it does is remove throttle input. So the car will still start and it can still be put into gear, but it will essentially just sit at idle with no response from the accelerator pedal.
It is more accurately a theft deterrent that can slow someone down or make the vehicle harder to drive off with quickly. It works best when used alongside other security measures, but it is important to remember that nothing is ever truly theft proof if someone is determined enough.
The idea is simply to add another layer of protection that may discourage or delay a potential thief and hopefully make them move on.
-Tiffany
The Soler Performance Bluetooth throttle controller is not a kill switch and it does not prevent the vehicle from starting.
What it does is remove throttle input. So the car will still start and it can still be put into gear, but it will essentially just sit at idle with no response from the accelerator pedal.
It is more accurately a theft deterrent that can slow someone down or make the vehicle harder to drive off with quickly. It works best when used alongside other security measures, but it is important to remember that nothing is ever truly theft proof if someone is determined enough.
The idea is simply to add another layer of protection that may discourage or delay a potential thief and hopefully make them move on.
-Tiffany
