News – Harrisburg Mall

June 12, 2013

Free Vehicle VINetching Offered At Harrisburg Mall

Etching your vehicle identification number on auto glass makes it less likely to be stolen.

Harrisburg, Pa. (June 12, 2013) – The Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority
(ATPA), PA State Police Central Auto Theft Task Force, and abc27 will co-sponsor a free
VINetching event on Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Open to the public, the event will be held at Harrisburg Mall, located on Paxton Street off
I-83 exit 45. The etching will take place in the parking lot near the Mall’s Paxton Street entrance.

This is a free service provided by ATPA and its grantees. VINetching at a dealership
often costs several hundred dollars. Weather permitting (there is no rain date), vehicles will be
etched on a first-come, first-served basis. The process takes less than 15 minutes.
VINetching or VINgraving is a proven theft deterrent. The Vehicle’s Identification
Number (VIN) is chemically etched on to the vehicle’s windshield and all windows (the process
does not damage the glass). Would-be thieves resist stealing a vehicle that is VINetched because
that vehicle is more easily identified and, if stolen, all of the costly glass must be replaced in
order to remove traces of the VIN.

Cynthia Tolsma, executive director of ATPA, urges residents of Harrisburg and the
surrounding area to have their vehicles VINetched. “Auto theft is mostly a crime of opportunity,”
Tolsma said. “Anything you can do to make your car less attractive to thieves, the better. Take
advantage of this free service to protect your car, and always remember to lock your car and take
the keys – preventative measures most car theft victims did not do.”
For more information about auto theft in Pennsylvania and 50 tips to prevent your vehicle
from theft, visit www.watchyourcar.org.

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