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Vin Etching
In December of 2003, the Anchor Bay Community Foundation awarded a $500.00 grant to the Chesterfield Township Police Department for its "Family Safe Awareness Day" program. The Chesterfield Police Department elected to use the money toward the purchase of a crime prevention tool to benefit the community.
Many stolen vehicles end up being dismantled at "chop shops" with the various parts being sold off to unsuspecting or complicit auto body repair businesses. The Chesterfield Police Department wanted to discourage auto thefts in the Township by offering a VIN Etching system for the residents of Chesterfield and New Baltimore. This consists of reading a vehicle's VIN with a portable bar code reader and transferring the 17 digit VIN to a printer that scores the VIN number onto transparant decals for each window of the vehicle. The decals with the VIN are stuck to the glass. An acid is swabbed onto the decal. The acid penetrates the decal through the VIN imprint and makes contact with the glass. After 5 minutes the decal is pulled away and the acid is flushed away from the glass with water. It leaves a chemically etched imprint on the glass of the VIN. It is barely visible but it can't be removed without destroying the window. It does not detract from the value of the vehicle.
Automotive insurers encourage their customers to use theft deterrents like this by offering premium discounts. The citizens that have their vehicles' windows etched will be given a certificate at the police department to give to their respective insurance companies as proof that the work has been done.
Detective James Gates has been trained to perform the etching. He is available by appointment at 586-949-3304. Occasionally the Department will sponsor Family Safe Awareness Days at the police station or some other location for the etching and other program offerings. These will be advertised in advance in the local newspapers.
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