KPRC 2 Investigates clone cars, flaw allowing vehicle identity theft

HOUSTON – Upcoming to your dwelling, your automobile is likely the most high-priced factor you own. What if you identified anyone experienced stolen your auto, but it was nonetheless in your driveway? It is fundamentally vehicle identity theft. KPRC 2 investigator Amy Davis discovered a flaw in the state’s titling method enabling robbers to steal vehicles and hide them in basic sight on our roadways.

Strike and operates, criminal exercise and toll violators are just a couple of good reasons it is critical that law enforcement can track the record of every vehicle on the road.

Your car or truck identification amount is like a social protection range, distinctive to your automobile. Just like your social, intruders are working with VINs to steal your vehicle’s identification.

To reveal how criminals perpetrate this criminal offense, we interviewed Kenneth Davis. He paid in comprehensive for his 2015 BMW 535 when he purchased it in 2020. He obtained the title for the motor vehicle. In 2021, he resolved to trade it in at a neighborhood dealership for another automobile. That is when he learned an individual else experienced gotten a bonded title on his BMW, applying the VIN. The auto was registered to Davis and somebody else who lived in Spring.

Advert

“I was totally floored,” Davis explained to Amy Davis, recounting what the workforce at the dealership informed him.“They were being like, ‘Well, the title that you have has your name on it, but even so, when we pull it to search into the program, the car’s truly registered to an individual else.’”

Davis couldn’t offer his vehicle mainly because on paper, it didn’t belong to him.

It was registered to an handle in Spring. When Houston police auto theft investigators drove to the deal with, they located one more black 2015 BMW 535 in the driveway. It’s the similar make, product and shade as Davis’ with license plates tied to his car or truck identification number. The car was a clone.

“You would not know. You would not,” Davis discussed. “I would possibly wander to the mistaken car or truck considering it was my vehicle mainly because they are identical.”

I know what you’re considering. Why? Why would the proprietor of a single auto get it registered utilizing the VIN of a different car?

Sergeant Tracy Hicks with HPD’s Automobile Theft Job Force answered that question.

Ad

“About 100% of the time, that car’s essentially a stolen car or truck,” he claimed.

Hicks verified the BMW clone of Kenneth’s vehicle was stolen from a Sharpstown area mend store.

Even crooks know they’re on borrowed time driving around in a stolen car. But if they get a license plate that goes back to a automobile with no record, they can push the stolen car unnoticed. Heck, they can even provide it.

“If there ended up any authorized ramifications, if they got in an incident or regardless of what, it would come again to me and not that person,” stated Davis.

Joel Olvera owns Surety Bonds, a title bonding small business. He understands the fraud and said he sees it every day. He stated he sees a person to 3 autos each and every day wherever drivers come into his office environment seeking to get a bonded title for stolen autos.

“It is about. It is surprising. And I would say it is risky as effectively,” Olvera informed Davis.

Car homeowners can legitimately utilize for a bonded title when they’ve shed the authentic.

Advert

“Most of the tales we hear are, ‘My grandfather gave me this car. He just can’t find the title. A spouse and children member handed absent and they had it and it was provided to me,’” explained Sgt. Hicks.

Beneath those people situation, point out law involves that legislation enforcement officers confirm the VIN ahead of a bonded title can be issued.

HPD does VIN verifications at 1400 Dart just about every Monday morning. Officers check out out every automobile.

“We individually examine that car for the VIN range, confirm that, that VIN belongs on that vehicle, and then sign the paperwork,” Hicks described.

Candidates then choose this doc back to the Division of Motor Autos to apply for the bonded title.

Advert

But KPRC 2 Investigates uncovered that the condition law does not call for this kind of VIN inspection for each and every vehicle.

A DMV spokesperson told us by electronic mail, in Davis’ situation, “There was a file for this auto, so the applicant was not demanded to have the motor vehicle inspected by regulation enforcement.”

The bonded title software asks the applicant:

• “Are you in legal possession of the automobile?”

• “Are you in lawful management of the vehicle?”

The man or woman applying employing Davis’ VIN checked “yes” for both equally queries. Obviously, it was not accurate.

“So, who’s heading out to the parking large amount to make sure that the particular person applying for the bond has that car or truck?” Davis requested Olvera.

“No a person,” Olvera answered.

“Nobody’s examining that?” Amy adopted up.

“Nobody at all,” mentioned Olvera.

The DMV told KPRC 2 investigates “The applicant qualified to getting in possession and authorized handle of the automobile.”

“They could be telling the truth. They could be lying. And they just count on a straightforward response on a straightforward query,” stated Olvera.

Ad

“Those VIN quantities can be transferred to pretty much any title on any auto and the proprietor of the precise auto could not even know they are being duplicated,” explained an incredulous Davis.

Are a good deal of persons having bonded titles in Texas?

The DMV could not explain to us how numerous bonded titles it has issued without the need of law enforcement inspecting the autos, but they say the state-issued 65,677 bonded titles final yr. That was a lot more than 23,000 than they issued the year in advance of. The condition issued 42,227 bonded titles in 2020.

Hicks states if two titles are issued for the identical VIN, the DMV generally catches it.

“What typically transpires is, each of individuals people who have that number get a letter expressing, ‘Hey, your title.. and hence, license plates, are each invalid. You both of those have to have to go to your community DMV, and discover out what the deal is.’ And they conclusion up at your neighborhood police department,” explained Hicks.

Davis claims he was in no way notified, and the DMV couldn’t inform us who, if any person, it notified of the double titles on the same car or truck.

Advert

“If you make a mistake, personal up to it. And deal with it,” reported Davis, speaking to the DMV. “And don’t set the citizens by way of this form of things when it’s not their fault.”

It took about three months, but Davis finally got the mess straightened out. The stolen clone car was confiscated. There are numerous victims of these crimes. The thief sold the cloned car or truck on Offer you Up to a girl who did not know it was stolen. She is now out the revenue she compensated for the auto way too. Police say the finest way to avert this from going on is to call for a car inspection for each individual single vehicle that requirements a new title.

Wednesday morning on KPRC 2 Information, we will demonstrate you how to make confident the made use of car you’re obtaining is not stolen.