Eye's peeled folks...

[stum450n]

Increase in number plate thefts reported in North Oxfordshire

There has been a three-fold increase in the number of number plates used to steal petrol at filling stations in North Oxfordshire.

Area Commander Supt Howard Stone, said the increase in number plate thefts was specifically down to the high cost of fuel. Cars disguised with stolen plates fill up and then drive off without paying. Jo Abbott from the RAC Foundation said it was a severe problem, particularly in the Thames Valley area.

She said its central location near the M40 probably meant that it was a target for criminals coming into the area. Det Sgt Steve Birchall, who works in the Banbury area, said that the police have six high profile operations planned this year to combat plate thefts. The police use an automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR) which immediately alerts them if stolen plates are captured on camera.

Mr Birchall said: "Tamper-proof plates shatter so they can't be used for anything else... no one can use your identity to commit another offence."

Link to BBC News

[andyjudge]

What's next ?

Trouble is the tamper proof plates are all very well but its the poor law abiding motorist gets hit with the bill for replacing them each time a scroat tries nicking them.

[felix79]

Also with eBay you can get plates made up with no need to give id's ect so your plates can be clone without you even realising it.