The Lehigh County Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Task Force has scheduled a free Vehicle Identification Number etching event in Whitehall Township May 17.

The event will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whitehall Township Municipal Building, 3219 MacArthur Road.

The event is open to all vehicle owners in the Lehigh Valley and there is no limit on the number of vehicles that motorists can bring to the event.

VIN etching is the process of chemically etching a vehicle's unique identification number on all windows and sunroofs. The process does not harm the windows and doesn't detract from the vehicle's appearance.

Detectives who do the VIN engraving, which takes minutes, use special software and a dot matrix printer to create stencils with the identification number on them. The stencils then are applied to each of the vehicle's windows and are dabbed with an acid solution. The stencils are removed and the glass is cleaned with glass cleaner. The number remains behind and is lightly etched into the glass.

"This is one of the easiest things vehicle owners can do to protect themselves from thefts," Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin said.

"Other ways to prevent thefts are to always remember to lock the doors of vehicles, keep windows up in warmer weather when the vehicle is unattended and keep valuables out of sight or out of the vehicle."

Detective Sgt. Salvatore Aprile of the Task Force said etching deters thieves from stealing vehicles because the thief would have to replace all the windows or deface the glass to remove the etching so the vehicle can't be identified as being stolen.