I got the following message in my email the other day and started to think, is this a viable form of car theft. I called a friend of mine in the car business and he says no. But it might be some interesting pondering.

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 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 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 boa rd. 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.