The VIN in Vehicle Security and Theft Recovery
Robert F. Campbell · SAE technical papers on CD-ROM/SAE technical paper series · 1976
With automobile theft approaching one million annually in this country, automobile manufacturers are realizing the importance of the vehicle identification number in combating this crime. Even though commercial auto thieves use sophisticated techniques to falsefy the VIN's on stolen vehicles, voluntary and required procedures are currently being employed by the manufacturers to counter these actions. Secondary and confidential markings can now provide the law enforcement agent with another tool to make positive identification of a suspect stolen vehicle. The VIN is still the only legal identification accepted in the courts to prove rightful ownership of a motor vehicle in this country.