VPD to Host VIN Etching Program

The Victoria Police Department is hosting a free VIN etching Saturday to promote safety awareness. The event starts at 9 a.m. at Parkway Church, 4802 John Stockbauer Drive, and ends at noon, says the Victoria Advocate. The first 30 vehicles to arrive will receive a free gift.

VIN etching is a chemical process that inscribes a vehicle's identification number on its windows with the hope of deterring thieves. The etching also helps identify stolen parts.

Attendees at the event also will be able to register in the statewide H.E.A.T. program, which allows officers to pull over a registered vehicle between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. without cause to ensure it hasn't been stolen. Registration for both programs is available year round at the Crime Prevention Unit in the Victoria Mall.