As a way to prevent car thefts, the Prince William County Police Department, the City of Manassas Police Department, and the Virginia State Police’s H.E.A.T program are offering free VIN etching on June 10.
“All vehicles carry a federally-assigned number known as a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Making sure those numbers are marked permanently on a vehicle’s windows can help drive car thieves away,” stated a release.
The free etching will be happening at the Shops at Signal Hill shopping center at 9692 Liberia Avenue in Manassas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Officers will provide free VIN etching for all your windows.
More on VIN etching, from a release:
Disposing of a vehicle whose windows have been VIN-etched takes time, trouble and money, all in short supply for thieves. That is because the windows of stolen VIN-etched vehicles must be stripped and replaced before a thief can get rid of the car, a costly and time-consuming process.
VIN etching obliterates any potential profit professional thieves might have gleaned from the lucrative practice of selling windows and windshields for parts through chop shops. Your vehicle’s VIN is etched into the glass with a chemical solution, and those numbers will be there for good.
According to a release, only a person named on a vehicle’s registration can allow for a VIN etching, so you will need to bring a valid driver’s license and the vehicle registration. You will also need to complete a consent form, and take a printed one with you. Here is the form.
