AAA Alabama is offering a free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching theft prevention service to the public. The VIN etching service will be available at the AAA Huntsville office (2625 Memorial Parkway SW) Sept. 24 from, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This service is free to members and non-members alike as one of AAA’s Public Service Programs.

The service is provided by appointment only, so advance registration is required by calling (256) 539-7493.

According to AAA, over the past few years, the number of motor vehicle thefts has decreased and is in part, to vigilance by law enforcement through the use of special programs like the use of bait cars and preventative measures taken by motorists, such as VIN Etching. The use of VIN Etching reduces thefts by making it tougher for thieves to re-sell the vehicle or its parts.

VIN etching is chemically stenciling the VIN number permanently and discreetly onto all of the windows of a vehicle. Law enforcement encourages VIN etching and says it often serves as a deterrent to car theft. The process takes approximately 15 minutes per vehicle. Some car dealerships charge as much as $200.00 for the service – AAA Alabama is offering this service for free. This is available as a public service and is available to AAA members and non-members alike.  All a vehicle owner has to do is make an appointment, then stop by the local AAA office at the appointed time.

“VIN etching has proven to be a valuable tool in auto theft prevention,” said AAA Alabama spokesperson, Clay Ingram.  “This public service event will help to promote proactive safety measures for motorists.  Plus, some insurance companies, such as AAA Insurance, offer a small discount for having your vehicles etched.”

Here are a few stats:

Auto theft remains the number one property crime in America.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a motor vehicle is stolen every 33 seconds in the U.S. – that’s more than 794,000 vehicles a year valued at more than $6.4 billion.
Statewide Theft Statistics: According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports in 2010 there were 10,600 vehicles stolen in Alabama compared to 12,809, 10 years earlier in 2000 and 14,053 in 1990.  (Source: http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/alcrime.htm)
Worst Alabama City for Vehicle Thefts: The Birmingham-Hoover Metro area led the state in 2010 with the highest number of vehicle thefts at 3,777.  The next highest number of vehicle thefts in the state was in the Mobile Metro area with 1,695 vehicle thefts.  (Source: NICB hot spots 2010 –https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/nicb_campaigns/hot_spots)
VIN Etched vehicles have a 64 percent lower theft rate than non-etched cars (Source: CNN Money reports)
VIN Etched vehicles have a more than 85 percent chance of recovery (Source: CNN Money reports)

“Auto thieves try to identify cars that are easy to steal and leave few traces when it comes to taking them apart at so-called ‘chop shops.’  A car that has its windows VIN etched is less desirable to be illegally re-sold or taken apart for parts,” added Ingram.