CAUTION auto theft

[Yesmar]

Just ran across this   scary stuff


"I got this in an email. I haven't checked it out, but it could be legit.

Better safe then sorry! :}

Here is info worth the price of your car.... WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?

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 #.

My friend didn't believe this e-mail, so she called Chrysler-Dodge and pretended she had lost her keys. They told her to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cut her 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.

I slipped a 3 x 5 card over the VIN NUMBER. "

[oscar]

Hmmm.  Well in our state, the vin is printed on the registration sticker regardless of where it appears through the windsheild or elsewhere on the car's body.  If you cover up the vin on the sticker you'd probably get fined. 

Our family ride is an Aus Ford Territory (an SUV like a US Escape) but better but I might drop an email to Ford Aus to ask exactly what's needed to confirm proof ownership to see if the above scam would be possible here.

[Big_Richard]

I'd hope that one would need to provide pretty definitive proof of ownership before getting these replacement keys

Naturally its no risk to our antiques that we own and love, i doubt they even have on record the particular key details per build number anymore. 

The best antitheft device is not leaving the battery in the car, and having the rear subframe unmounted and disassembled and sitting inside the house 

[TJ 450]

Keys are available from MB Australia, although one needs to provide the relevant details and funds to acquire them.
For "Mr. Joe Average" off the street, this would be more than somewhat difficult.

None of my cars have the VIN or Chassis nr. visible from the outside of the car. Even my other vehicle of Swedish manufacture has the VIN on the firewall.

Tim

[koan]

In AUS M-B dealers require proof of ownership and ID to get new keys.

koan

[Yesmar]

I figured all that but i have a feeling in the U.S. some how its possible, maybe not from mercedes benz, but  its happened before.

[wbrian63]

The times I've dealt with needing a new key from the dealer, once with MB and the other with Honda, I had to provide irrefutable proof of ownership.

However, the other day I saw on one of those cheezy "cop chase" shows, a stolen 92-94 400SE (W140 chassis) cars. I couldn't help but wonder how some hapless thief could steal one of the later model MB's without a key - the lock cylinders are practically bullet proof.