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Auto Club Offers Free Auto Theft Prevention VIN Etching In Long Beach

The Automobile Club of Southern California’s Long Beach branch will be providing free anti-car theft Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching for car windows on Wednesday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Members and non-members can receive the VIN etching on their vehicle windows to make them a less likely target for car theft. Car window VIN etchings are small, but visible enough to deter thieves, according to law enforcement officials.

 

The Auto Club, the California Highway Patrol-Southern Division and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) are co-hosting the event in the Auto Club Long Beach branch parking lot, 4800 Airport Plaza Drive.  They also will offer vehicle theft prevention as well as vehicle burglary prevention tips to car owners.

 

Car theft is the number one property crime in America.  Law-enforcement officials say the permanent engraving of a vehicle’s federally registered VIN etching helps deter car theft because VIN-etched car windows prevent car thieves from switching the VIN number plate on the dashboard to mask the car’s identity, and cars and their marked parts cannot be sold as easily by thieves.

 

The Auto Club and allied agencies’ tips to prevent vehicle burglary and theft include:

 

  • Always lock your vehicle with the windows closed. Never leave valuables inside the car, especially not in clear view, including small electronics, wallets, checkbooks, personal paperwork or any personal identification.
  • Bring electronics and personal items into your home or office whenever possible.
  • Use anti-theft or automatic tracking devices. If your vehicle wasn’t equipped with an alarm or hidden tracking device when purchased, have one installed.
  • Never leave your keys in your vehicle, even at a gas station.
  • Park your vehicle in a well-lit area at night. 
  • Never hide a spare ignition key in your vehicle, including under floor mats, sun visor, etc.
  • Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a secure garage.
  • Never leave the vehicle running at any time when you’re not in it. This includes your driveway, while picking up friends, or while at a grocery store or shopping mall.
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.