Philadelphia VINetching

State Rep. Leslie Acosta, D-Phila., is partnering with the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority and the Philadelphia Police Department Major Crimes Auto Squad to host a free vehicle identification number etching event.

The Lock it! Hide it! Keep it! Vehicle Theft Prevention Event will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21 in the Rite Aid parking lot, 4530 N. Fifth St.

For more information about the event, contact Acosta’s office at (215) 457-5281 or visit 511 W. Courtland St., Suite 197.

VINetching is the process by which a car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is “tattooed” onto all of the windows. This deters thieves from stealing the car because if they were to try to resell it, they’d have to replace all of the glass on the vehicle. The process takes about 15 minutes.