Why did the investigators release they found VIN on SUV?

[itsrobert]

Wouldn't it be better to not alert the bad guy(s) that they have a lead?

[Orrex]

1. I think that the bad guys would probably assume that the investigators had found the VIN

Releasing that information is probably meant, in part, as a statement that the investigation is in process and is moving forward.

[itsrobert]

2. Assume? They removed the primary VIN

They either didn't know that there are other VINs on cars or they thought they would be burn off in the explosion/fire. I think the first one.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Yep.

They were probably parked outside the residence of the last known owner when they released that tidbit.

[Orrex]

6. Ah. Didn't know that.

Which is the "primary" VIN, by the way? The one on the door? What about the one under the windshield?

[tekisui]

10. I don't know which is the primary, but I do remember reading

once that there are other VINs on the vehicle, one even etched in the axle, if I remember correctly.

[Orrex]

13. Makes sense.

I'd think that the manufacturer would stamp the VIN on just about every surface possible, at least on the parts that are likely to stay with the car for a long time.

[TheDebbieDee]

19. Some luxury models even have the VIN etched on the glass.

[merh]

33. Wasn't it the VIN on the axel found down the block

from the Murrah building that lead investigators back to Ryder and the info on McVeigh as the renter?

[Bitwit1234]

24. I thnk there is plenty of evidence

because these right wing militia or radicals thought that the explosion would destroy everything. I am glad they were dumb enough to think so.

[Warpy]

28. Yeah, if the bomb didn't detonate, of course they'd find the VIN

It's in several places, after all, some of which are designed to survive shredding in an accident.

The SUV has got to be a rental. If not, the bomber or bombers are even dumber than they already look.

This is amateur city, in any case, homegrown terrorism.

[eShirl]

3. because panicked idiots make even dumber mistakes

[TheDebbieDee]

20. Very true! Panicked idiots are likely to do things that will

expose themselves!

[Robb]

29. +1.

Panicked pros can make mistakes as well.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. they released that they had found finger prints

[PCIntern]

8. and maybe the fingerprints are of the owner

of the car who perhaps doesn't even know that it's been stolen yet...parked at an airport or to be serviced at a dealership or something like that.

That's what I'd write in a book if I were an author...

[Motown_Johnny]

9. but then you could still find out more about the car and where it came from

where it was parked in the airport and if there might be security cameras showing the guy stealing it

or of the car dealership


who ever those finger prints belong to they are a better lead than the VIN

[PCIntern]

15. Right...

I was just advancing the plot...

[madokie]

23. and if those finger prints are on the propane bottles that will lead them to where they were

purchased at at the very least if not point out the person responsible at the most.

[geckosfeet]

7. Very hard to remove all VIN's. Engraved on the engine block.

[WeDidIt]

11. I've heard they're hidden in ROM on the onboard computer, too

but I've never had that tidbit verified.

[geckosfeet]

16. Very likely these days. You can get an aftermarket chip - I imagine that has no vin.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. Since that's how the got McVeigh...

...(from the VIN on whjat was left of the rear axle) it would sound too incompetent not to admit they had the VIN from an unexploded vehicle.

As far as alerting the perp, that is a mixed bag. A person in flight is sometimes harder to catch, but sometimes easier to catch.

And it might encourage accomplices to turn themselves in seeking a plea bargain.

I think that on balance it's not a concern.

[madokie]

25. These guys or gals are as good as caught now

its just a matter of time. Like you said if they can do with the evidence they had in OK city what they did they have all kinds of evidence for this one due to the fact it did not go boom or create a big firebomb. Lots of fingerprints I'm sure to be found from lots of people and one of them will point to the perpetrators. My suspicion is when they find them they will also find they are of a larger group of militia type thugs, teabagger thugs or just hate radio loving thugs.

[Raineyb]

14. What difference would it make? It's likely the car was stolen anyway.

:shrug:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

17. Stolen from where?

It is useful to know that the perp was in place x stealing car y on date z.

[Raineyb]

26. The VIN number isn't going to give you that. It'll give you the owner

Presumably one wouldn't be stupid enough to use one's own car as a car bomb. Granted they could use their own car, report it stolen and use it but regardless, given out the fact that they found the VIN number is not a big deal. I don't see what the OP is complaining about.

[NNN0LHI]

18. I am sure someone "reported" it stolen

I would really like to question the person who made the report.

Don

[melbel8301]

21. Owner was contacted last night.

I heard on cable news last night that the cops had questioned the owner and he claimed the van had been sold to or taken to a junkyard previously with the license tags. Don't know the accuracy of that report.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. I think that was the owner of the vehicle the plates came from

The license plates were stolen off another vehicle, which had reportedly previously been taken to a junk yard, and place on the SUV which had the VIN removed.

[madokie]

22. I don't think the bad guys need to worry about the vin number

the fbi and the nypd will find the perpertrators you can bet on that. Just because they found that the anthrax terror was traced back to a sitting vice president doesn't mean they don't know who done that one either as they know. Fear is why we don't know who did that one though.

[slackmaster]

27. I just checked my black Pathfinder

It's still in the driveway.

[saltpoint]

30. If the bad guys didn't know they'd find the VIN they're too stupid to

avoid arrest anyway.

[spanone]

32. these are not the brightest bulbs on the shelf....i don't think it matters