Number plate theft in your area

Number plate theft in your area

Dear Resident,

If you want to buy a set of number plates from a legitimate supplier you'll have to present the vehicle registration document and prove who you are, so thieves often resort to stealing number plates from a car on the street or in a quiet corner of a car park.

With so much enforcement by CCTV or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) stolen plates can be used to disguise another car to aid crimes like:

Changing the identity of a stolen car so it can be sold

Ram-raiding or burglary

Driving from petrol stations without paying

Evading congestion charges, parking and speeding fines

If the number plates are stolen from your car you should report it to the police straight away – you might start receiving parking fines, speeding fines or worse.

Number plate theft is a big problem and rates have more than doubled in the last five years.

How to protect your plates

Use a garage at night if you can

Park in busy, well-lit areas if you have to park on the street

Use safe, well-lit public car parks

Consider using security screws which can be turned easily using a screwdriver to fit them but can’t be undone using normal tools.

Consider using theft-resistant number plates which may cost a little more but are designed to resist known attack methods and will break apart if someone tries to remove them by force.

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Message Sent By
Hannah Butler
(Greater Manchester Police, Operational Support Officer, Bolton North / West Neighbourhood Team)