Got this from a friend. Seems like a loophole in the system.

WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?

Seems that car thieves have found yet another way to steal your car or truckwithout any effort at all.

The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or truck, 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 #.

My friend didn't believe this e-mail, so she called a dealer and pretended shehad lost her keys. They told her to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cuther one on the spot, and she could order the keyless device if she wanted.

The Car Dealer's Parts Department will make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't have to break in, 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 IS that easy. To
avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical tape, duct
tape or medical tape) across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash board. 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.

Slip a 3 x 5 card over the VIN NUMBER.

 

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

 

i work in the parts dept of a gm dealer
in canada and we require proof of ownership before we even cut a key
i.e registration, insurance slip, copy of lease contract or bill of sale from the dealer showing their name on it

 

I certainly hope dealerships are smarter than that..

 

Thanks for the info..

You would think that the dearlerships would be required to verify the owner of the vehicle, using their name and SSN or something. This is quite scary to say the least.

Sounds like time to cover the VIN...

 

I don't think anyone would go through the hassle for a $20,000 car. Maybe if we were all driving Vettes, Vipers, and the like I would care.

 

my dealer asks for Texas DL before cutting a key.
had to do one for the Nox,,, not cheap either

 

Not nit-picking here but, members should probably read CrazyBob's post and click on the link he provided. It would have answered many concerns.

Years ago, this same e-mail was sent to me. Checking with my dealer revealed that they required some type of I.D. for the duplicate key. It seems the key number CANNOT be directly acquired by the dealer. They are required to provide vehicle information that duplicates manufacturer's information regarding ownership (this is what is supposed to happen...not allowing for some unscrupulous friend at the dealer).

Now if you have THE key or the key number that it a different matter.

Buy the way, an additional key, purchased from the dealer, and hidden someplace is a good idea.

 

Yea, that's what I would have thought. It's probably just an urban legend then.

But then again, I was just thinking of my dealership, hmmmmm?

 

Hey since this part of the forum is for anything...I recommend the Snopes link provided by CrazyBob. You can check just about anything on that site and it has validity. I know that many "media" people use it as well as Lexus Nexus. The lady and the helpers who research everything do a great job. And provide reference material, on each topic, at the bottom for validation.