Protect Your Personalised Number Plate

Police are warning all car owners to do what they can to prevent their personalised number plates from being stolen.

Personalised number plate

The theft, which can prove to be quite costly for the victim, often results in personalised number plates being used on another car while a crime such as petrol theft is committed.

Hobsons Bay Community Liaison Officer, Senior Constable Sharon Radau said preventing the theft is as easy as fitting plates with one way screws.

“Personalised Number plate theft is a big issue,” she said.

Sen Const Radau said installing the one way screws was easy and could only be removed with a special tool not sold to the general public.

“The screws are free at Altona North Police Station or you can buy them from Bunnings,” she said.

“Standard screws are easy to come off with a screwdriver.

“Stealing number plates is like stealing the car’s identity and often used for petrol drive-offs or for other more serious crimes.”

Mary Mammoliti from Bunnings, who has been a victim of number plate theft, agreed installing one way screws was a good idea.

Police will be holding a Safe Plates Day on Saturday 17 December.

Residents will be able to have their number plates fitted with one way screws for free.