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Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? 850

posted by  someone claiming to be Dick on  Tue Jan 25 23:19 CST 2005 [RELATED]

A friend of mine wrote and said all a car thief has to do to steal your Volvo is look down through the front windshield at your VIN number, copy it and take it to a Volvo dealer, tell them that you lost your keys or had them stolen, and the dealer will make you a new key. Whereupon said thief can go back to your car, open it and drive away. This sounds just too damned simple. Does Volvo or the dealer take any precautions to prevent this from happening? Asking to see your registration to check against your ID wouldn't really be realistic if you said it was in the glovebox of the locked car or that you were miles from home and the registration. Add a note of desperation to your voice and I think most dealers would make you the key based on your VIN number. I hope being able to steal your car this way is folklore and not reality. The European market models do not have the VIN number out in the open where anybody can see them like the US models. Is the above reason why? If true, then I guess the safest thing to do is tape over your number so nobody can see it. Comments, please. Dick








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    Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? 850

    posted by  nebulous1 on  Wed Jan 26 18:58 CST 2005
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    last visit: Sat Feb 16 20:51 CST 2008
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    "Just becasue I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

    Anyway, I've never heard of a car being stolen in this manner. Sounds like too much trouble for most criminals to go thru. I wouldn't worry about it.
    --
    Tack så mycket








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    Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? V70-XC70 2001

    posted by  someone claiming to be Alex in NV on  Wed Jan 26 11:40 CST 2005 [RELATED]

    60 minutes did a piece on this a few years ago and they found that the dealerships were all over the board as to the information they required. One dealership said "no, not without the registration for proof"...so 60 minutes went down the street to the another dealership (same Car Company) and got a key right on the spot. They later said that they thought she looked trust worthy...a middle aged white woman, dressed professionally.
    I was glad that my Volvo dealership here in Vegas asked to see proof of ownership via the registration even though I was already in their database as a customer.
    My experience is that company policies are written and implemented, but it's up the individual as to whether it will be followed.

    Regards








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    Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? V70-XC70 2001

    posted by  someone claiming to be Alex in NV on  Wed Jan 26 11:40 CST 2005 [RELATED]

    60 minutes did a piece on this a few years ago and they found that the dealerships were all over the board as to the information they required. One dealership said "no, not without the registration for proof"...so 60 minutes went down the street to the another dealership (same Car Company) and got a key right on the spot. They later said that they thought she looked trust worthy...a middle aged white woman, dressed professionally.
    I was glad that my Volvo dealership here in Vegas asked to see proof of ownership via the registration even though I was already in their database as a customer.
    My experience is that company policies are written and implemented, but it's up the individual as to whether it will be followed.

    Regards








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    Stealing your Volvo - Dead Right! 850

    posted by  someone claiming to be Homer on  Wed Jan 26 05:39 CST 2005 [RELATED]

    I ordered keys over the phone--they didnt seem concerned about security. Of course i used a credit card to pay for them and they were mailed to address the car is registered at. They could have verified these things but i doubt it and they didnt do any such thing while i was on the phome. HTH H (put black tape over the plate)








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      Stealing your Volvo - Dead Right! 850

      posted by  someone claiming to be Christopher on  Wed Jan 26 08:39 CST 2005 [RELATED]

      I wonder how the meter maids would react as they have to put the VIN # on the ticket (at least here in S.F.)...








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    Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? 850

    posted by  someone claiming to be Dave on  Wed Jan 26 03:06 CST 2005 [RELATED]

    I puchased some keys from my Volvo dealer and provided my vehicle registration with the VIN. My understanding is that you need proof of ownership even to get the code for the radio (unless you are an established customer). Different dealers have different policies so your experience may vary.








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      Stealing your Volvo with the VIN number--Possible? 850

      posted by  Lilitchpin on  Wed Jan 26 05:44 CST 2005
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 05:03 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      My dealer made me show reg and drivers license to get spare key & radio key when I first got my used 850 as it only came with one key. Of course not all dealers might be so careful!







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