Dealerships in Northern Virginia have alerted WANADA to the theft of several vehicles using keys acquired through fraudulent means. A dealer noticed people on his lot writing down VIN numbers. When they became aware they were being watched, they drove off. A few days later that car disappeared.
After checking to make sure all the keys for the vehicle were accounted for, the dealership contacted the manufacturer to see if the key to the stolen vehicle had been cut elsewhere. It turned out another dealership had cut the key for an elderly locksmith who had done business with that dealershipês parts department for over 20 years and was known to be reputable. The locksmith told police he had the keys cut for people who told him they were dealing with salvage cars. But they were not salvage people. They were professional thieves.
Dealers throughout the region are strongly advised to be on the lookout for this kind of criminal activity, and to report any suspicious activity to the police in your jurisdiction. To avoid being a victim, WANADA recommends dealerships take the following steps:
à Alert all employees to whatês happening, and review the current parts department policy on cutting keys to ensure there are no holes in it.
à Demand absolute proof of ownership title or registration with their name on it for anyone requesting new keys. Although some customers may complain, this requirement is critical to prevent unauthorized keys. In addition, be alert for fraudulent registrations or temporary registrations that may have been stolen from other dealerships, as was the case with another Virginia dealership recently.
à If a vehicle is stolen off the lot and all the keys can be accounted for, contact the manufacturer to see if those keys were cut somewhere else.
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