This came to me at work from our Police Service, via our office's Police Liaison Officer, so it's legit.
Subject: VIN Numbers
Seems that car thieves have found yet another way to steal your car or truck without 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 #.
I didn't believe this e-mail, so I called a friend at 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 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 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.
It goes without saying that you don't want to share this with friends that maybe dwell on the shadier side of the law...
Will
this seams a little off. about 2 years my sister broke the one and only key to her 99VW golf. she did get a new key maid but they asked for a copy of her ownership and to make a photo copy of her drivers licence.
junk email from ur mom and/or family
could never and would never happen
No doubt you're right. However, who says all car manufacturers and dealerships are that thorough and security conscious? The police are telling us about it because it's happened, at least up here in Alberta.
I would believe it. That's why I keep my car looking like crap. Oh, wait, I'm just lazy. I would definetly put tape on my VIN if I thought anyone would want my car. It takes 2 seconds, and who cares if you're paranoid or gullible?
if you want an easy way to make your car realy hard to steel all u need is about 1hr of time and 10.00$. its simple put a hiden stwich in your ashtray or under your seet .anyware as long as it is hiden. hook that stwich up to your fuel pump. it wont stop them from braking in to your car but thay wont be able to steel it from u with out a tow truck. it will start run for about 4 seconds then quit and wont start again untill the stwich is turned back on. leaving them puzzled.
At least with Ford, only service managers and parts managers have access to the Ford key code data base. The data base is pass word protected and before you can get to the spot to enter the key code a reminder pops up that you need proof of ownership. Proof of ownership is usually a driver's license with a photo and registration with the same name and address.
More and more owners still block off the VIN so that it can't be read all the same.
Originally posted by realslimshaver:
if you want an easy way to make your car realy hard to steel all u need is about 1hr of time and 10.00$. its simple put a hiden stwich in your ashtray or under your seet .anyware as long as it is hiden. hook that stwich up to your fuel pump. it wont stop them from braking in to your car but thay wont be able to steel it from u with out a tow truck. it will start run for about 4 seconds then quit and wont start again untill the stwich is turned back on. leaving them puzzled.
Any thief knows that one. It may stall them for a moment, but they'll find it if they have any time at all. If you hook it up to the ignition +12 it is a fun way to screw with friends, though: "Hey, go move my car for me..." A buddy of mine did that, and it was funny to see people amazed when he hopped in and it started right up for him. He just looked at them like they were an idiot for not knowing how to turn on a car.
Quote:
Any thief knows that one. It may stall them for a moment, but they'll find it if they have any time at all. If you hook it up to the ignition +12 it is a fun way to screw with friends, though: "Hey, go move my car for me..." A buddy of mine did that, and it was funny to see people amazed when he hopped in and it started right up for him. He just looked at them like they were an idiot for not knowing how to turn on a car.
most car thieves that know that are looking for top of the line cars. i mean some of them on here are but most thieves that are going to steal a contour probably dont know the ins and outs.
Heres what you do, Get insurance
I changed my locks, I wanted new locks since I knew the previous owner of the car lived down the street, and gave me one set of keys. can never be too sure....
Doesn't work if you've got a PATS key.
did you know that there is also a master code written in the VIN for keypad entry vehicles?? A mechanic at my old job showed me how you could remote start and unlock the doors of a newer grand marquis simply by reading the vin and entering the code on the keypad. Only problem is the steering is still locked.
I love the number of people that take Emails as the GOD OWN TRUTH...
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_car_thieves_vin.htm
You have to prove owernship of the vehicle w/ a valid registration before the dealer will make you a new key. They won't just give out a key to anyone who wants one based on a VIN, they know as well as everyone else anyone could walk up and write down a VIN off of any vehicle. I wouldn't worry about this unless you keep the car unlocked and they can take your registration too.
Originally posted by CarpePoon:
did you know that there is also a master code written in the VIN for keypad entry vehicles?? A mechanic at my old job showed me how you could remote start and unlock the doors of a newer grand marquis simply by reading the vin and entering the code on the keypad. Only problem is the steering is still locked.
I'd like to see the method on how this is supposed to work. 
Check out that link above. 3 out of 4...
You really think the person behind the counter is always going to be strict about it? Sure, I don't see this happening to any contour. It's a lot of work and risk when hotwiring is really easy on a lot of cars. If you really want a safe car, get lojack.
Hot wiring doesn't bypass the steering lock, you need a screw in dent puller, the kind with a slide hammer on it. Besides that method only tends to work on foreign cars like toyotas and hondas because they have a single screw that holds the ignition switch in, so it just breaks and out comes the switch, then just use a scredriver. Besides GM and ford ignitions can't be done this way as there is a slotted washer at the base that prevents screwdriver starting even if you can remove the switch, which is also held in by this slotted washer and cant be removed unless the switch is in the on position. But don't worry anyone who steals a tour is just doing it to run drugs around not take it to a chop shop, so your likely to get the car back
Don't ask I watch COPS on tv too much
Originally posted by CarpePoon:
did you know that there is also a master code written in the VIN for keypad entry vehicles?? A mechanic at my old job showed me how you could remote start and unlock the doors of a newer grand marquis simply by reading the vin and entering the code on the keypad. Only problem is the steering is still locked.
There is a factory set code for each car, but not one code for every car with a keypad. Trust me, the dealer just won't "give" someone the factory code for your car. It's harder to get that from a dealer than it is to have a key cut. Also, many of the units fail and need to be replaced, and the dealer won't have the code to the new unit in the database.
Also, I'm not sure how the mechanic started the car with the keypad because I've looked at the schematic and wiring diagram of the ford keypad system, and it is in no way connected to your ignition module.
Auto manufacturers are wise to this little key cutting scheme, and now some of them give you a key tag with a number on it. You not only have to have the VIN, but the tag with the numbers to obtain a replacement key. The dealer does not have this number in their database, but they must enter it before they can get a key pattern.
It's funny as with my old Ford's back in the UK you had a master key ... it had a RED handle instead of black plastic.
If you ever wanted a copy key you had to take this one in for them to make it. If you didn't have it, I believe that you had to jump through more hoops than a circus dolphin to get a new one. It struck me as odd that they don't have the same practice here.
Judas H Priest! I'm covering the VIN on both of my 'tours in 10 minutes.
Originally posted by ContourKev:
Heres what you do, Get insurance
I changed my locks, I wanted new locks since I knew the previous owner of the car lived down the street, and gave me one set of keys. can never be too sure....
I hear that! When I sold my old Jetta, I didn't realize that I hadn't given them all the keys, and found one of them in my desk drawer several months later.
Who ever thinks they're going to see their old car again though?! Come to find out, I was driving through the town where I went to school, and low and behold there was my old Jetta sitting in a parking lot (which is odd because the person I sold it to lived on the other side of the state!). I was so tempted to get in, turn the car around, adjust the mirrors and screw with the seat adjustment. In the end, I just chuckled to myself that I would even think about doing something like then, then just drove on.
Now if I were to come upon my father's old Mercedes, it would probably still be a different story (yup, I have a key for that one too)!
-Chris (who just disclosed waaaaay too much information!)
Back when we had a suby legacy, my dad was leaving a store and got into a legacy using our key and started it up and started to drive away when someone started yelling at him. He stopped and cops came and he had to show him that he had used our key and just mistaken the car for our's. Weird the key would work on both on a newer car, but I guess it happens when they can only change the key pattern so much. I've also used a house key to open a friend's truck when she locked her keys in it.
I used my key to unlock some guys tour.. Some old man locked himself out and I was seeing what we could find to unlock it, and I said "f-it" let's see, and it worked!!! LOL
Jenna about peed her pants to think that it worked..
Ray
Before I changed my locks, my Contour Ignition key (95 had 3 damn keys
) The ignition key to my Contour worked in my moms Escort, which only had one key, so I keep my old ignition key on my keychain for when I drive the Escort around
Her car key worked my ignition too, Now i just have 2 keys, one for door and ignition, and 1 for glovebox and trunk
I useed to open the doors of my friends blazer with my S-10 key. He'd get soo pissed!:D
I work at a salvage yard and ive gotten keys this way many ,many times. They never questioned anything,only asked for the vin,and its not like they did it because they know me ,id call it in over the phone and send whoever was available to pick it up ,never a question of proof of ownership ,i always thought it was kind of crazy
Simple solution: Get VIN off a Junkyard Contour, take locks to it, get new key if needed, put it in your contour, make sure old keys arnt compatible
Now my friend's Z28 requires no key for the Passenger door, a screwdriver will open it
Too bad the same isnt true about the ignition....
It does, you just have to break the column and pop the retaining ball out so the ignition switch can turn freely. Most older GM's and Jeep's have that in common.
My friend in highschool had his Jimmie jacked that way and when they recovered it, he left it that way for a few months
Though back on topic.....
I did read somewhere last year in a magazine about someone jacking a truck towing an enclosed trailer w/ 3 or so GM concept cars in it by having a key made from the VIN.
Well I know to steal an older GM. take a hammer to the ignition till it breaks off, then turn the switch inside
(Did that to a Chevrolet Celebrity at a Junkyard cus the Horn beeped)
My windshield is tinted...it is impossible to see it...
All you need is a VIN. When i had my Sonoma i lost the key and the dealership just needed to VIN to replace the key. That also could of been for the fact that my name was on the profile at the dealership and they could prove i bought the vehicle. But then again it is a scary thought.
Same thing happened with my '87 Camry - at the end of a long day I opened the door of another gunmetal grey Camry in the same parking lot, and realized the size 12 running shoes on the seat didn't belong to me!
When I was younger my mom gave me the keys to go out to our '92 Taurus wagon, in blue. Probably the most common car in our town by 10x. Well, I got in, and started one, then realized... there's no baby seat in the back, for my little sister! I look over, and sure enough, 3 cars down there it is.
Wow these stories are weird, one of my HS friends his old car (88 Dodge Daytona) had like 4 keys for it, one to unlock driver door, one to unlock passenger door one to open rear hatch one to start it. My other friend had a 85 S10 Blazer and he could take his key out going down the road and it would still run.
my 95LX ignition key would come out while running... I used it to leave the car running and go to the gas stations to get a drink.. I could still lock it, lol..
Ray
I have seen VIN numbers on the driver's side and passenger side window on a Tour at a parking lot. Anyone seen this or have it on their Tour? Weird.
Originally posted by TourminatorGL:
I have seen VIN numbers on the driver's side and passenger side window on a Tour at a parking lot. Anyone seen this or have it on their Tour? Weird.
its called etching. ive got it on all of my windows. when the dealer(only some do this)got my car, the first thing they did was etch the vin in all the windows with acid. then when they were selling it to me they tried to rip me off by charging me for it. its an "antitheft" thing so if ur car is stolen or stripped, the theft has to replace all the widows, or if its still intacked, the police can recover the car eisier...with some plan they wanted me to buy...ive already bought an antitheft plan...its called insurance
Here's what to do to make sure your car doesn't get stolen. And while we're at it, here's what to do to get out of a
ticket.
PS. If this is a repost, sorry. I just thought they were both too hilarious to pass up.
My friend about got his G35 taken like that in D.C. But he had CCTV on the car a saw the guy come and get the VIN# when he came back the next night he was busted by the cops. He had a hook-up at the dealer and they both got busted and they had snached like 3-4 other G35s that month. Thats why he had CCTV on the car. I told him to put tape over it a few weeks befor it happened but he didn't get around to it. But at least he knew what the guy was tring to do.
Originally posted by Ray:
my 95LX ignition key would come out while running... I used it to leave the car running and go to the gas stations to get a drink.. I could still lock it, lol..
Ray
Ive seen that on a few saturns! Crazy!
Also my friends parents 2nd gen Taurus' key would open other Taurus'.
I was about to add sinilar to the last post. All you need is someone with a connection at the dealer to bypass all security clearances, crooked employees.
Also I heard that if you car is stolen with a key that some insurance companies wont cover it.
I have an alarm so I am not real worried about my car, plus its a tour.
About the VW key that was mentioned. I think they are real anal about the key cutting because it costs a lot to cut them and they usually have to have them sent in as the machine to cut them is like 3K, im sure they dont want you bailing on them and leaving them with the cost.
Well, you guys with 1999+ Contours, other Fords and many Imports don't have to worry about getting your car stolen with the key. Even if they take the Vin to the dealer and have a key cut, they still need to program it into PATS. In order to do this on 1999+ versions of the TI embedded chip PATS, you must have two working keys. So, while they may be able to get a key cut, they won't be able to program it so it will start your car. That is unless you give them both of your other sets of keys as well.
TI switched to this form of key programming after getting reports of crooked dealers who would clone clients keys while their cars were in for service. By requiring both keys to program a third, it makes it virtually impossible for someone to clone your key without your knowledge.
Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
I love the number of people that take Emails as the GOD OWN TRUTH...
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_car_thieves_vin.htm
figured someone would link to that site.though it does explain what it is, it does say it has worked before.
works or not, if you live in a state where its allowed take 2 minutes and a penny worth of electrical tape (or some tape to match the dash, and cover it.
-Kes