[10802 CVC. Any person who knowingly alters, counterfeits, defaces, destroys, disguises, falsifies, forges, obliterates, or removes vehicle identification numbers, with the intent to misrepresent the identity or prevent the identification of motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts, for the purpose of sale, transfer, import, or export, is guilty of a public offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, or two or three years, or by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or by up to one year in the county jail, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.]

There is no such thing as a re-bodied or revin in California. I have never heard of such a thing in ten years working auto theft, until I read about them on the forums. It’s either a VIN switch, in which many of my cases suspects replace the VIN in attempts to hide he identity of a stolen vehicle. In the classic car business it appears it’s to bypass California smog emission or EPA 25 year rule.

The VIN is attached by the manufacture, the MSO “Birth Certificate” to the vehicle. In California it’s ilegal to remove the VIN attached by the manufacture, even though you outright own the vehicle.

My partner of few years back crushed a few minis and notified custom officials to be on the look out, but he since has retired. At the port, Custom will impound it, sell it at auction, or order it exported it out of the country. Auto theft detectives, especially task force detectives that specialize in classics will have them crushed. But every case is different. If you buy a car, and was lied to, your not legally liable, but u will lose the car.

Then you would go after the seller, and that’s if he knew the car he sold had been tampered.

Here’s a perfect example:

[1965 MORRIS COOPER S British Racing Green, Green Plaid interior, completely restored engine chassis trans, interior. 1300cc engine with fuel injection and roller cam. 90 hp, very fast. Perfect interior with light Green Plaid seats and Light Green carpet. British Racing green exterior with Cooper S badges. Minilite style wheels with very low profile tires. Adjustable cambers all round with performance shocks, not hydrolastic. Wind down front windows and premium stereo AM/FM/CD. Alarm and security start lockout system. Wood grain dash with tach, temp, volts, clock.]

It’s not fair to the buyer, that pays big money, with no knowledge on these types of cars,but always wanted an early Cooper S mini, or it’s bought as a gift, to find out later it’s a newer vehicle that’s been re-badged or re-vined.

Since it appears it widespread and acceptable to tamper with vehicle VIN’s, I will start to focus more investigation into these crimes. If anybody has any information, please contact my office. If you’re in a different state then California, I can send the information to an auto theft detective in your area.

Detective George Molina

Office:(818) 830-6977

Email: gmolina@lasd.org

Los Angeles County-T.R.A.P.

Task Force for Regional Auto Theft Prevention.