Wakefield Police Offering VIN Etching Saturday To Deter Car Thefts

The following is an announcement from the Wakefield Police:

The Wakefield Police Department and the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike (a unit of the Massachusetts State Police) are sponsoring a “VIN Etching Day” to mark automobiles and make them unwanted by car thieves. The event will be held on Saturday, November 17 from 9am-2pm at the DPW Garage located at 35 North Avenue.

VIN etching entails chemically marking the car with its own unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on all windows, including sunroofs and T-tops. The chemical process of etching involves using acid that reacts only to glass. Etching the VIN on all the glass windows of the car makes vehicles less wanted by car thieves.

The fee for etching is $10 (CASH ONLY) and most car owners see the value right away because they are given a certificate to receive a discount of 15% or more on their comprehensive auto insurance. You need to present your vehicle registration at the time of the etching and the whole process should take approximately ten minutes to complete. No appointment is necessary and the etching will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Wakefield Department of Public Works has generously allowed us the use of their garage to help facilitate this event.

If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Surette, Program Coordinator for the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force, at 781-393-1201.