covering VIN as anti-theft

[Livolsi, Stephane]

>  Something like 30 to 40% of the cars stolen in the USA have the keys
> RIGHT IN THE IGNITION!!! In the past three days, I have seen three cars
> sitting, engines running, no one inside, all anyone has to do is open the
> door and sit down. One was in front of the post office, one in front of a
> city recreation center, and another in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I guess the
> idiot owners didn't want the car to get hot in the sun, so they left it
> running. This is amazingly stupid and also totally illegal - and if the
> car
> is stolen, not only won't the owner's insurance pay for it, but the owner
> is responsible for any damage caused, because the insurance won't pay for
> that either. And in Florida, leaving the keys in an unoccupied vehicle is
> a
> misdemeanor, and I think it becomes a felony if the car is stolen and
> anyone gets hurt.
>
Incredibly enough, here in BC, although it is illegal to leave your car
running with the keys in the ignition (actually, also illegal to leave it
unlocked without the keys in the ignition) BUT, if the vehicle is stolen,
the insurance will still pay and the owner will get a ticket from the cops
for a couple hundred bux.  What a joke!

On this note, a little story.  I was visiting a friend at an auto dealership
a while ago first thing in the morning.  One of the lot boys comes in and
asks him " where's that 2003 black F350 diesel crew cab that came in
yesterday" "I don't know but it should be around behind the bodyshop"  "No I
checked and I asked around, and nobody's seen it"
"Well someone must be doing a predelivery wash or something - it'll show up"

Later that day, listening to the Hot Car report on the local radio " Be on
the lookout for a stolen black 2003 Ford F350 diesel crew cab....."
This truck was at the dealership 1 night and was stolen before it could be
delivered to the buyer.  Turns out there has been a chop shop operating
around here that recently got busted.