1. Forms of modifying and manipulating identification numbers of motor vehicles Arranged up by: ■ Vladimír Janoušek, Mikuláš Madara, senior experts of metallography from the department of forensic and electrical engineering, the Institute of Forensic Science of the Slovak Police Corps ■ Karol Morávek chief of this department

2. Motor vehicles thefts:  casual ones and the ones (usually not to resale, source of spare parts)  performed by the organized group (thieves, modifiers, suppliers, couriers, receivers, coordinators, mediators, sponsors and traders)

3. Modifying or totally changing of the vehicle identity implies several activities. It is possible to execute the changing of the VIN by several methods.  The original VIN shall be grinded away and pierced with the number to which was issued to a vehicle that had been totally destroyed in an accident, or seriously damaged or worn-out.  A part of the chassis, in which the VIN has been embossed shall be changed.  According to the type of vehicle, the logical unit with the VIN shall be changed in such a way that the spot welding seams shall be disjoined and then this unit shall be built into the stolen vehicle thereby its identity will have changed.  A vehicle will be sawed up into two parts where the part of the stolen vehicle, of which the VIN has not been embossed, is used. From this part the identifiers that could help to identify that part of the vehicle are removed.

4. However, for a confidentiality of the real vehicle identity it is also necessary to use the documents, those will confirm the credibility of the vehicle. This is possible to execute also by several ways:  The vehicle can be in operation with the technical data, registration number and documents of the real vehicle that was destroyed or seriously damaged at the accident.  Other possibilities are the generation of a twin – a stolen vehicle shall get into use with the technical data, registration number and the documents of the real vehicle, currently in operation with the same set of information & identity.  The vehicle can be registered on the basis of false documentation.

5. Vehicles identification on the basis of:  the other markings called production numbers (labels, paper stripes with the production code)  the board computer, instrument panel memory, engine control unit (VIN, immobilizer number etc.).  the detection airbags numbers and other equipment situated in the vehicle, car radios, etc.

6. Thank you for your attention.