How to protect your ride’s information as investigation into series of break-ins continues
BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into a series of vehicle break-ins where the only item taken was the vehicle registration.
A total of 11 vehicles were broken into across several different Bladen County communities.
Jessica Guinn is an insurance agent at Fair Winds Insurance.
She said stolen registration can be more serious than you might think.
“If a thief is able to gain access to your registration and they have your vin number, they could not only be registering illegal vehicles but also falsify claims that could have an impact on your insurance rates,” Guinn said. “By having access to that, they may also have personal information that they could further victimize you with your homes and maybe identity theft at that point.”
Richard Allen is the captain of investigations for the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
He explained why thieves would steal a vehicle registration as the registration has the full details of the vehicle.
The thieves would then steal a vehicle that is the same make, model, and year, change the vehicle identification number or VIN and information of the stolen vehicle, and then sell it. So while you would still have your real vehicle, another vehicle would have the same VIN, which could cause confusion and issues if a claim is made against that vehicle.
Allen said along with locking your vehicle, keeping your registration somewhere safe is important.
“This is probably a good time to think of some, think outside the box of some places to put your registration that are only known to you,” Allen said. “Whether it be, you know, some vehicles have little cubby holes under the consoles, like hidden compartments, put them there or just keep them with you if you need to or in your wallet or whatnot.”
Allen said the investigation into the break-ins is ongoing and they’re asking for anyone with information to contact the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
