Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Roger-hatchy]

From another forum

Quote:

WHAT WILL the car thieves think OF NEXT?

The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or vehicle,write down the VIN # from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN #.

I didn't believe this e-mail, so I called Chrysler-Dodge and pretended I had lost my keys. They told me to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cut me one on the spot, and I could order the keyless device if I wanted.

The Car Dealer's Parts Department will make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and the thief doesn't have to break into your car or do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is 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 really is that EASY.

To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some dark tape (electrical
tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN Number Metal Label located on the dashboard.

By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you CAN cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck.

[peter scott]

If you have a Ford you need to cover your number plates with tape too as the Ford Etis system is freely available on the web and you can look up the VIN if you know the registration.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Richard H]

Most Fords made in the last 20 years have very similar keys, certainly once the locks are a bit worn other Ford keys can be used to open and start cars. I once heard about a man who's MK4 Escort ignition key unlocked and started his 2006 Focus ST.
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Richard Hughes

[JC T ONE]

[bob2]

Jc not only fords, many old cars have bad locks, minis too!!
I once opened another mini cause there wasn't much space for my clubman estate to park behind it and there was too much space between this mini and the car infront, so I opened it with my keys, and pushed it a bit forward, then parked my clubman behind, and locked both cars !
So much stupid things you do when you're young!!!

[john-saab]

I worked in a VW main dealers not so long ago and key cutting was only done when a registration document was present..I can't say what other dealers do but at this large chain of dealers on the South Coast that was the policy across all branches.
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Rust Junky & oil addict.

[ukdave2002]

The only experience I have had was to get a replacement key cut for a Peugeot, we had to produce a stack of ID before they would cut and code a replacement.

On a modern car you may get through the physical locks with the wrong key, but it wont start unless the electronics in the key coding matches the car, whilst this has added to security, it has made car theft more violent; as the toe-rags have to get they keys off you in order to nick the car

Dave

[baconsdozen]

I think if someone is that determined the only thing that will stop them is a rabid alsatian on the front seat. A dose of buchshot works pretty well too.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Julian]

[Roger-hatchy]

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

[RotaryBri]

I remember my father telling me that one day he came out of a shop and walked up to his Morris 1000 and found that he could not open the door. He tried the key a couple of times without success. A man came up to him and said 'are you having trouble' and when Dad said yes he said 'why don't you try the car behind?' and when Dad looked there was another identical Morris 1000 parked there and it was of course Dad's. The man said that he actually owned the car that Dad was trying to open. Obviously the keys were not like Fords. A Ford dealer told me that there were only 30 keys for Fords in the 50s and 60s so any thief only had to buy 30 spare keys and they could open any Ford on the road!
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Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80

[JC T ONE]