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Lisa Hodge • Published 8 Sep 2010 14:00
MOTORISTS are being warned to be on guard following a spate of brazen number plate thefts.
Sneak thieves are ripping registration plates off parked vehicles and fixing them to their own cars, then filling their tanks with petrol and driving away without paying.
Greenock police say the crime used to be a rare occurrence but they’re now receiving reports from around Inverclyde of at least one incident a fortnight.
Sergeant Andrew Wilkinson today urged car owners to beware. He said: “This kind of crime is now happening an average of once every two weeks, and although that isn’t prolific, we would still urge drivers to be wary.
“These thieves often target cars which are commonly seen on the roads because they are more likely to go unnoticed for longer.
“More unique cars have less chance of being targeted.
“Occasionally they will be stolen to order for organised crime gangs for bank robberies or something more serious, but this is rare.
“The most common motivation is to steal petrol from garages and to avoid speeding and parking tickets.”
One victim, who asked not to be named, had her plates stolen while her car was parked in Crawfurd Street, Greenock.
After filing a report with police, she had to pay £35 for replacement plates before she was allowed to drive her car again.
Later that day, the stolen number plates were spotted on a car which was being filled with fuel at a petrol station in Paisley.
The victim said: “These thieves were brazen and ripped my number plates off in broad daylight, in a busy street, just to save themselves having to pay for petrol.
“They not only damaged my car and cost me £35, but I was later cautioned and questioned by police over a theft that I did not commit.”
Sgt Wilkinson added: “I would recommend people screw their number plates on because this makes it more difficult to remove them.”
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 08 Sep 10
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