Almost 50 number plates stolen from cars in the Bristol area aleady this year
DRIVERS in the Bristol area have been hit by a spate of number plate thefts.
Community Safety Inspector Gerry Treacy, of Avon and Somerset police, said: "Since January 1 this year, 48 plates have been reported stolen across the Avon and Somerset policing area – eight in South Gloucestershire.
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Community Safety Inspector Gerry Treacy, of Avon and Somerset police
"Thieves steal the number plates of law-abiding motorists and use them to try to avoid detection when committing other crimes.
"If you come across abandoned number plates, whether they are broken or even if they look like they have fallen off, give us a call on 101. We'll ask for the registration details and when and where you found it."
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Neighbourhood policing teams have been helping local motorists prevent this sort of theft by holding special events at supermarkets and DIY stores, swapping standard number plate fittings with security screws.
Crime prevention sessions were held in the car parks of Badminton Road Methodist Church, Downend, and St Barnabus' Church, Warmley, last week.
PCSO Katrina Sheldrake said: "Fitting tamper-proof screws is a quick and effective way of securing your number plate and we were doing that for free at these evening events. Despite the cold weather we had almost 100 motorists visit us in all.
"It's important to let us know if your number plate is stolen, if you find one abandoned, or if you spot anyone acting suspiciously near cars."
5 Comments
by P_J_B
Thursday, January 24 2013, 8:48AM
“would it not be more helpful to advertise these police drop in locations (to have tamper proof screws fitted) BEFORE they actually happen...?”
by RobBradStoke
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 3:04PM
“Ciderboy671; sorry to hear that. My neighbour also had plates stolen two weeks ago.
So hopefully some bright spark in the police may read our items and actually take the right action!”
by Ciderboy671
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 2:37PM
“"surely Police will now automatically pull over any car displaying a number plate recorded as stolen"
Afraid not - my wife's plates were stolen a couple of weeks ago and reported immediately.
I've driven her car quite a bit since then and been followed by Police at various times without being pulled over.”
by RobBradStoke
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 1:40PM
“CharlesPk; nothing wrong with people locking things up to stop theft, just a pity judges don't seem to understand this principle when sentencing crooks.
Can't last for long - as surely Police will now automatically pull over any car displaying a number plate recorded as stolen. Original owners should not mind too much if stopped.”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 12:31PM
“This is what I call the 'Hoodie Syndrome'.(cctv) . As usual the more intrusive you make the 'Big-Brother Control Measures' against ordinary people; whether it be for firearms, or microchiping any animals or any other ID measure, the crooks just ignore it or find a way round it.
We are increasingly being forced to live in a 'lock everything up society', but every year we are told 'crime is falling'.
Bring back the birch!!! :))”