HOUSTON – Pickup trucks are the prime target for vehicle thieves across Houston, with law enforcement officials warning of sophisticated theft schemes, including VIN cloning operations.
“Crooks are going to steal what people want to buy,” said Sgt. Tracy Hicks of the Houston Police Department’s Auto Theft Crimes Task Force. In Texas, particularly, trucks top the list of most-stolen vehicles, differing from national trends.
Vehicle theft can be devastating for victims, especially in vulnerable communities. “For the single mother who lives in an apartment, it can be life-altering,” Hicks explained.
Rising threat of VIN cloning
Criminal organizations are increasingly using VIN cloning techniques to sell stolen vehicles. This sophisticated scheme involves copying legitimate vehicle identification numbers from legally owned vehicles and placing them on stolen ones.
“Cloning is when somebody has gotten your VIN number off of your legitimate vehicle and the vehicle matches yours,” Hicks said. “They either make a copy of a VIN or a fake VIN that actually has that number and put it on their stolen car.”
Last month, authorities recovered four stolen GMC Denalis in Hays County, all bearing cloned VIN numbers. The scheme works because most DMV offices don’t check for duplicate VIN numbers, allowing thieves to temporarily register and sell stolen vehicles across state lines.
Warning signs of vehicle scams
Potential buyers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Hicks cited common red flags: “Why would you sell me a $90,000 truck for $35,000? Well, I’m getting a divorce. That’s a classic.”
Another warning sign is last-minute changes to meeting locations. “The day comes and he says, ‘Oh man, my boss, I got stuck at work... Can you meet me at the Walmart?’” Hicks explained. “You’re thinking, yeah, my boss has done that to me too. You’re understanding, you’re empathetic.”
How to protect your vehicle
The HPD Auto Theft Crimes Task Force recommends several security measures:
- Install a steering wheel lock.
- Use an OBD port lock to prevent diagnostic port access.
- Install a GPS tracker (cell signal-based options work well).
- Add an alarm system with a kill switch or PIN requirement.
Protecting your VIN
Vehicle owners should treat their VIN numbers with the same care as social security numbers. “Giving your VIN number to a stranger on a phone, yes, that’s something you shouldn’t do,” Hicks advised. “Keep it guarded.”
When purchasing a used vehicle, buyers should:
- Verify VIN numbers match on both the windshield and door frame.
- Check for additional VIN locations specific to the vehicle model.
- Ensure the key fob properly unlocks all doors and the tailgate.
- Meet sellers at police stations or banks for transactions.
- Never agree to last-minute location changes.
While trucks, particularly Chevrolet models, remain the most targeted vehicles in Texas, thieves also frequently target Hyundai, Honda, and Kia vehicles. Notably, electric vehicles have so far proven more resistant to theft, as criminals have yet to master techniques for stealing them.
