Brockport PD to offer free VIN etching program

Vehicle identification number (VIN) etching is a proven deterrent to vehicle theft and may also save drivers money on their insurance and it is now a program that the Village of Brockport Police Department will be offering village residents, free of charge.

Sergeant Mark Cuzzupoli, the officer in charge of the program, said the equipment for the VIN etching program is on loan from the division of criminal justice to provide the service for the residents.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in conjunction with the New York State Motor Vehicle & Insurance Fraud Prevention Board, Division of Criminal Justice Services and United States Department of Justice is sponsoring a crime prevention program. The "Watch Your Car" auto theft prevention program is part of a national campaign designed to deter auto theft and assist in the apprehension of auto thieves.

The VIN etching takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, Cuzzupoli said, and it involves verification of data of the vehicle owner and insurance.

This works as a deterrent against auto theft because "chop shops" do not wish to deal with etched windows since the etched VIN can not be changed or altered without damaging the window. The owner of the vehicle may also receive a 2-5 percent discount on their auto insurance premiums.

"We etch anywhere from four to six windows," he said. "The program is a deterrent to thieves as they will see that the windows are etched and it makes it harder to dispose of the vehicle."

In addition to the VIN etching, Cuzzupoli said the department will also be administering a "Watch Your Car" program that is also aimed at auto theft prevention.

The "Watch Your Car" program offers two methods to aid deterring the theft of a vehicle. The first method is a voluntary vehicle registration program where the owners sign a document stating that their vehicles are not normally used between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and allow for a stop if the vehicle is seen being operated between those hours. Decals are affixed to the front and rear windows identifying the vehicle as participating in the program. If law enforcement officers observe the vehicle being driven anywhere in the U.S. during these hours, they may stop the vehicle and verify ownership. An owner also grants additional authority, at the time of registration in the program to have the vehicle stopped any time it is being driven across the border into Mexico or Canada or it is observed within the general proximity of an international port.

"If you think that your vehicle won't and shouldn't be driven during those early morning hours, then having the sticker would be a deterrent to a would-be car thief," he said. "It's been proven to be a deterrent."

Police Chief Dan Varrenti said the training and equipment were offered free of charge to the department.

"Anytime we can do something to deter or avert crime, it's incumbent on this department to provide that service," he said.

Both programs will be offered on two dates, Sunday, September 18 and Saturday, September 24 from 3 to 6 p.m. both days. Individuals who want to participate must call Cuzzupoli at 637-1020 ext. 41 to make an appointment.