This story was on Channel 7 News in the San Francisco Bay Area last week. Please read carefully.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> New Auto Theft Method of Operation, Blackwater Tactical Weekly, August 11, 2003

One thing, while you drive your VIN number must be visible by law. It seems that car thieves have found another way to steal your car or
truck without any effort at all. The car thieves peer through the
windshield of your car or truck, write down the VIN number from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN number. The car dealer's parts dept will make a duplicate key from the VIN number and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't have to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to
himself. All he has to do is to walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local chop shop with your vehicle. You don't believe it? It IS that easy.

To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical
tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN number, but you can cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief. I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Michael
---
Pewter Hummer H2
Northern California

www.zootsuitstore.com
------------------------------------

This story was on Channel 7 News in the San Francisco Bay Area last week. Please read carefully.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> New Auto Theft Method of Operation, Blackwater Tactical Weekly, August 11, 2003

One thing, while you drive your VIN number must be visible by law. It seems that car thieves have found another way to steal your car or
truck without any effort at all. The car thieves peer through the
windshield of your car or truck, write down the VIN number from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN number. The car dealer's parts dept will make a duplicate key from the VIN number and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't have to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to
himself. All he has to do is to walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local chop shop with your vehicle. You don't believe it? It IS that easy.

To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical
tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN number, but you can cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief. I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Michael
---
Pewter Hummer H2
Northern California

www.zootsuitstore.com
------------------------------------

From what I understand about this all H2's are registered and the owner has to provide proof of ownership before any spare keys are made for the vehicle even if they have the VIN #. I talk to my dealer about this last week and I was told that all H2's, well almost all have the VIN etched in the glass as well so having the VIN on the dash covered does really nothing.. But you do not have to worry as there is some paperwork that does go into getting a spare key or set of keys made......

This could work but is pretty much of an urban legend.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp