Chris Hill from Dagenham Motors and DI Paul Doran from Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Potters Bar car dealership’s bid to foil number plate thieves
By David Morris, Reporter
Monday, February 6, 2012
6:20 AM
A CAR dealership is turning the screw on thieves stealing number plates to commit crimes.
The Potters Bar branch of Dagenham Motors has teamed up with Hertfordshire Constabulary to alert motorists of the increase in number plate thefts and to offer a free fitting of anti-tamper screws.
Thieves snatch the registration plates so vehicles are falsely identified in crimes such as fuel thefts at petrol stations, road tax and insurance avoidance and even burglaries.
Detective inspector Paul Doran, strategic lead for crime reduction at Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: “There has been a spate of this type of theft and with the economy remaining low, we can anticipate increases in stolen plates being used for petrol forecourt drive-offs, congestion charge avoidance and for use in more serious and organised crime.
“Can I take this opportunity to remind people to also fit locking bolts to spare wheels and cages to cat converters as well as a reminder of not leaving valuables on display or overnight in vehicles.”
Speaking of the campaign, Chris Hill, service manager at Dagenham Motors, said: “Swapping our standard screws for the anti-tamper variety is a very quick, yet effective way to deter number plate thieves and we’re very pleased to be able to provide this free service to local motorists.”
Anyone interested in having their car’s number plates fitted with free anti-tamper screws should visit Dagenham Motors on Baker Street on Friday.
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1 comments
I am amazed criminals are so lazy and steal plates, given that once they're nicked - the original owner can report the loss and the plate is 'marked'. Surely most criminals just write down the details and then get a new plate made up? And if you're about to say that you need registration documents to get a plate made, I am pretty certain that you could get one made illegally very quickly - or just import one from outside of the UK. There's a site (I won't name it) that will ship a plate with UK typefacedetails in a couple of days. This advice may stop the opportunist, but don't assume that anti-tamper screws or a plate that breaks when removed will protect you. If someone clones your plates, you won't even know until you start receiving penalties in the post.
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jonmorris
Monday, February 6, 2012