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Victorian Police has revealed the hotspot areas currently being worst hit by car number plate theft, issuing an urgent warning on how people can protect themselves from being the next target.
According to the latest data from the state's Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), Casey has the unenviable title of being the worst local government area in the state, with almost 2000 reports made to police (1987) in the 12 months to September 2024.
Hume ranks second (1408), followed closely by Greater Dandenong (1374), with Wyndham (1121) and Brimbank (1110) rounding out the top five hardest hit in the state.
Of all thefts from vehicles across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia, half relate to stolen licence plates, and in bad news for car owners, only 22 per cent of stolen registration plates are ever recovered.
With all this in mind, why are criminals stealing number plates, and what can you do to protect yourself from it?
Why do people steal number plates?
People target number plates to commit vehicle-related crimes and go undetected by police, whether in a stolen or unregistered car.
Every Australian state or territory's Highway Patrol uses automated number plate recognition (ANPR). Fitted to the front of Highway Patrol police cars, the ANPR scans each plate it drives past and flags any stolen or expired registration plates.
Stealing a plate gives thieves a small window to escape these automatic scanners until the plate itself is reported as stolen. They usually go in search of the same make, model, and colour car to pick the plates off.
Criminals will also use these plates for other car-related crimes such as skipping tolls, burglaries, shootings, and arson, and Victoria Police say they've even seen people use them for homicides.
Another big reason for stolen plates is to drive off without paying for fuel. Because most places need the cashier to activate the pumps, the attendant will often enforce a pre-payment if a car has no licence plates on it.
By using fake plates, criminals can fill up their cars without suspicion from the attendant and then drive away without having the plates traced back to them.
Using false plates can accumulate fines starting from $1000 for unregistered and uninsured driving and range up to prison time depending on whether they're a repeat offender, if the licence plate has been stolen and other factors.
How to prevent number plate theft
There are several ways to deter a would-be number plate thief. Casey Local Area Commander Inspector Stu Richards says that you should park your car in a secure location and use anti-theft screws.
"Parking in a secure area such as a garage would be ideal; however, we understand that not every resident or visitor to the area is able to do so," said Richards in a media statement.
"Having to replace your plates is not only an inconvenience, it's also costly. Especially if you keep receiving tolls or fines once they're in the hands of criminals."
"That's why we encourage vehicle owners to use anti-theft screws to deter thieves in the first instance. These screws are available free of charge at your local police station."
A lot of metropolitan and peri-urban councils offer a free anti-theft screw service for your licence plates through the local police force.
By searching your council area and 'anti-theft screws', you can find out if your local police supports the scheme.
If not, you can purchase a set of the screws for between $6 and $10 from your local hardware store.
The idea is that they tighten up with a screwdriver and cannot be loosened off with the same tool. Instead, you'd need to use a bolt extractor to undo it, which will take time and extra tooling. This will deter thieves from targeting your car and will likely cause them to move on somewhere else.
Report the number plates are stolen as soon as you see them gone
Reporting the plates as stolen as soon as you notice they're gone can save you potential effort from proving any fuel theft, speeding fines or illegitimate tolls.
You must notify the police when your vehicle is stolen. You will be asked to fill out a police report that you can take with you to your local transport authority and apply for new licence plates.
Because any general-issued number plates that have been reported as stolen cannot be reordered or reissued, you will need to buy new ones.
The cost varies from $30 to $120 depending on the state and the type of plates you are ordering.
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
