Free VIN etching by MPD

The Maricopa Police Department will be conducting a free VIN etching event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 3 in the Bashas’ parking lot, located at 21044 N. John Wayne Parkway.

Last year, Arizona ranked sixth in the nation for vehicle thefts per capita and eighth for total stolen vehicles. Arizona reported 21,250 stolen cars in 2010 – a 17 percent decrease from 2009 and the eighth consecutive year for a statewide decrease.

Etching your vehicle identification number (VIN) number serves as a permanent fingerprint of your vehicle. VIN etching is an effective visual deterrent against auto theft. When a vehicle is stolen, the thief must change the identity of the vehicle by changing the VIN identification plate on the dashboard. With a new VIN identification plate in place, he or she now has a new vehicle.