The Victoria Police Department offers vehicle identification number etching as a free service to help residents avoid becoming victims of vehicle theft.
The next VIN etching event will be 9 a.m.-noon July 12 at Parkway Church, 4802 John Stockbauer.
Residents must display a driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance, and the vehicle’s registered owner must be present.
A car is stolen every five and a half minutes in Texas. Having the VIN etched on the windows of a vehicle greatly reduces the odds that the vehicle will be stolen.
Every vehicle has a VIN plate on the dashboard. Car thieves can easily replace these plates with counterfeit ones.
However, when the windows are etched with the VIN, a thief has to replace all the windows and dispose of the glass. This will cost the thief time and money, so a thief who sees that a vehicle has VIN etching will be less likely to steal that vehicle.
Etching may also increase the vehicle's resale value, and some insurance companies may offer a discount if a car has the VIN etched on the windows.
For more information about the event, contact the Community Engagement Unit at 361-485-3808 or PoliceCEU@victoriatx.gov.
To learn more about Victoria Police Department events and programs, visit www.victoriatx.gov/police.
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