You might want to watch where you park your Roadster or Coupe or any vehicle for that matter. This has been going on for years, but I guess it's happening more frequently now.

Just thought I'd share.

Thieves now stealing VINs

Thieves are stealing identification numbers of luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles to put them on stolen automobiles, in effect laundering the hot cars so they won't be easily traced, according to a report in USA Today. Stolen vehicles with legitimate IDs are much easier to register at state motor vehicle departments.

Since last July, about 600 vehicles with duplicated vehicle identification numbers (VINs) have been seized, says Ivan Blackman of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Mr. Blackman says there have been at least 10 arrests since January in connection with VIN thievery.

From Michigan to Florida and New York to Iowa, thieves are trolling through mall parking lots, car dealer showrooms and Internet auction sites in search of identification numbers belonging to cars that are similar in make, model and year to recently stolen vehicles. In March, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist announced arrests in a two-year investigation, dubbed Operation Road Runner, which cracked a car theft ring allegedly responsible for "cloning" more than 250 cars worth $8 million.

While many cars with altered VINs are sold to other criminals, auto auction houses, car dealers and consumers also have been duped.