VIN-swapping car scam leads to arrests in S.L.

Investigators with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division took two people into custody and were investigating a third person after they uncovered an alleged scheme of putting stolen Vehicle Identification Numbers on different stolen vehicles.

The investigation led to a house near 350 North and 1000 West about noon Thursday, where investigators found a stolen motorcycle and two cars. A flatbed trailer found at the house also may be stolen, MVED spokeswoman Jodi Monaco said.

"It's called VIN-number switching. It's very common," Monaco said. "Basically, what it does, is let them try to register the car with a VIN number that hasn't come up as stolen yet. They can get a title for the car."

Car owners generally don't immediately notice the VINs missing after their vehicles have been broken into, Monaco said. In the meantime, thieves can put the stolen VINs on other cars that have been stolen.

In Thursday's case, the people closely matched the makes and models of the stolen VINs with the stolen cars, so authorities could be misled, Monaco said.