GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

If there has been another thread done on this one, please let me know where it is, I couldn't find anything on this when I did my search.I received the following info in an e-mail from a friend and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is a valid concern or if it is an Urban Legend or what?Thanks.*******It seems that car thieves have found 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 number from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN number. The car dealer's parts dept will make a duplicate key from the VIN number 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 to 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 label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN number, 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. **********

seems to me that such a simple technique would be widespread and common, which it isn't. i say that its BS.

That's what I thought, but I wanted to run it by you all and see what you all thought. If it was possible, I do believe I would be the brand new owner of a Silver Cloud!!!

The time I locked my keys in the car and called the pontiac/gm 1-800-ROADSID, they sent a guy out who unlocked it and never asked me to prove in any way that I was allowed to have access to the car.However, whoever took the call at 800-ROADSID made me answer twenty questions to prove that I was the owner. Seemed tedious at the time, but am glad they made sure it was legit to send someone out to open the car. Maybe the dealers need to verify the identity of the key requester before they can access the key code from the VIN. At least I hope so. It does seem as if a lot of info can be obtained starting with the VIN. Or even just the last part of the VIN. That's why i don't have it listed in my profile here, and I removed it from http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=824

Hi Charlie!I met another Vibe owner at the Toronto meet who told me that they broke in his car and stole I believe the registration or something to that extent that had the VIN written on it. When he called to report this to the police he was informed that what thieves do is steal that information, go to the dealership with a sad sob story and get them to reproduce the keys to the car. Now if this is BS or not, this is what the police told this Vibe owner. Just to be on the safe side he changed the door locks.The best thing is to get a good car alarm, I totally agree.

quote:It does seem as if a lot of info can be obtained starting with the VIN. Or even just the last part of the VIN. That's why i don't have it listed in my profile here, and I removed it from http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=824All valid points - the reason I also removed the "VIN#" option from the profiles today as well. Thanks.

If you are concerned and have a friend with a Vibe, switch locks with him and the VIN# will not match the keys for your car. There is no expense, just the labour involved to do the switch.

yes, but then, when you lose your keys and want another set, they will tell you to f*ck off because that is not the vin to the car you bought

Then you simply get your friend to do it and VOILA!

imagine a nice canadian snow storm blowing around, burying you while you try to get a signal on your cell phone to call your friend, then, get his info, then get him to bring his/her car there because they might notice it is different, etc...i say just keep insured and black out your vin if you are worried > just my .02

Hey, I don't lose keys, what do I know.

i don't either, they are kind of important.

quote:If you are concerned and have a friend with a Vibe, switch locks with him and the VIN# will not match the keys for your car. There is no expense, just the labour involved to do the switch.Good point, but changing lock in both fron doors, hatch and ignition would be very time consuming.... No for me. I have I goot insurance with 5 years without depriciation. So if a thief stoile my Vibe, I'll get a check of the value of a bran new Vibe of the year with the same equipment I have.

well its true that gm has all the key codes to the carsbut every parts department should ask fordrivers lic, and proof of ownership by lawbut if they don't ask,,, yes any one can get keys to your cargm has on file all requested key codes and could be investgatedif comes down to it,,,,

Is your Vibe an '04? In 5 years I may need it for parts and you can get a new one from your insurance company.

quote:Hi Charlie!I met another Vibe owner at the Toronto meet who told me that they broke in his car and stole I believe the registration or something to that extent that had the VIN written on it. When he called to report this to the police he was informed that what thieves do is steal that information, go to the dealership with a sad sob story and get them to reproduce the keys to the car. Now if this is BS or not, this is what the police told this Vibe owner. Just to be on the safe side he changed the door locks.The best thing is to get a good car alarm, I totally agree.That was me! The dealer's parts guy would have to be either dim or crooked to buy the thief's story, but JIC I did change the locks. It was about 2 hours labour, ~$CAN 300 with parts, but I feel safer now. Any paranoics out there want to buy a set of like-new locks real cheap? PS: I got a pedal lock too.

This is a VERY REAL problem!I made a post a while ago about it, but can't find it. My local news station had a two part series on the problem. Watch the videos here: 'Gone In 60 Seconds' - Part 1 (2.8 MB, WMV) http://www.ragingfish.com/movies/gi60s-1.wmv'Gone In 60 Seconds' - Part 2 (2.8 MB, WMV) http://www.ragingfish.com/movies/gi60s-2.wmv

It was in MadBill's post about his car being broken into, at http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=3964link provided for addtional info only, not as some evil "search before post" reminder

Thanks joatmon, couldn't remember for the life of me.

quote:Is your Vibe an '04? In 5 years I may need it for parts and you can get a new one from your insurance company. I have a 2003, but the only differences between 03 and 04 are estetical. Only the lower case modling and the dash gauge are different.Would you take an appointement?