LEARNED AUTO THEFT DETECTIVES ARE INVESTIGATING A RASH OF STOLEN CARS AND TRUCKS IN THE METRO AREA... WE’VE ALSO LEARNED.....IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP OR A PRIVATE SELLER — YOU COULD ACTUALLY BE DRIVING A 'HOT' CAR OR TRUCK RIGHT NOW AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. ERIC KAHNERT IS LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH OUR TOP STORY AUTO THEFT DETECTIVES JUST GOT THEIR HANDS ON SOME INFORMATION THAT THERE ARE DOZENS OF CARS AND TRUCKS IN THE METRO AREA THAT HAVE HAD THEIR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SWITCHED -- THIS NUMBER UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE BEST WAY TO AVOID VIN- SWITCHING USED TO BE BUYING FROM A DEALERSHIP... NOT ANYMORE. VIN-SWITCHING IS BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM IN THE METRO AREA. NOW, DETECTIVES TELL EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR THEY'VE OBTAINED INFORMATION THAT AT LEAST 75 CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE BEEN VIN SWITCHED RECENTLY. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S TOUGH TO SPOT. A THIEF GOES TO A SELVAGE YARD ... AND FOR A HUNDRED BUCKS BUYS A TOTALED-OUT 2002 WHITE FORD PICKUP WITH AN INTACT VIN NUMBER ON THE DASH -- AND ALSO BUYS THE TITLE. THEN, THE THIEF TRACKS DOWN A PERFECTLY FINE 2002 WHITE FORD PICKUP -- STEALS IT, AND REPLACES THE VIN NUMBER WITH THE VIN FROM THE SELVAGE YARD. THE STOLEN PICKUP NOW HAS A MATCHING VIN AND TITLE. THAT'S WHEN THE THIEF SELLS THE PICKUP FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ... USUALLY JUST BELOW MARKET VALUE. JOEL CORONA OWNS REECO AUTO SALES ... AND SAYS HE CAN USUALLY SPOT A VIN-SWITCH. 40:21 'we don't like to buy cars from people who come to us and say, you want to buy this car, look it's nice, we'll give it to you for low price.-10'AND WHILE DETECTIVES CAN TELL IF IT'S THE REAL DEAL--- THEY SAY AN UNUSUALLY LOW PRICE IS REALLY YOUR ONLY CLUE. AUTO THEFT DETECTIVES SAY SOME DEALERSHIPS DON'T SPOT A VIN- SWITCH BECAUSE EVERYTHING LOOKS LEGIT WHEN THEY BUY THE CAR. 40:00 'we try and buy cars in the auto auction, safe place, for us because they've got rules.-9' DETECTIVES TELL US THE AUTO AUCTION HAS SOME SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, BUT IS NOT IMMUNE TO VIN- SWITCHING. THE AUTO AUCTION SAYS THEY CAN'T COMMENT ON THOSE SAFEGUARDS. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT A VIN- SWITCHED CAR OR TRUCK? ... UNFORTUNATELY YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK. BECAUSE IT'S TECHNICALLY STOLEN ... DETECTIVES MAY SOON SHOW UP AT YOUR DOOR TO TAKE IT AWAY. REPORTING LIVE DOWNTOWN, EKEYWN4.