Crime reduction 

Number plate theft

Number plate theft has been on the increase in Thames Valley. In 2007, over 40,000 sets were stolen nationally, so you can see that it’s becoming a big problem.

Stolen number plates are allowing people to get away with several offences, including:

• Driving away from petrol stations without paying (‘bilking’).
• Dodging the London congestion charge.
• Evading speed camera fines.

Fines are often sent to the innocent owner of a vehicle which had its number plates stolen. Cars with stolen number plates are often used as getaway vehicles in more serious crimes.

All UK police forces are working together to combat number plate theft.

View the crime reduction clip on YouTube.

Please consider the crime prevention advice below to reduce the odds of you becoming a victim of number plate theft.

• Report the loss of your number plates to the police as soon as possible. Call 101, the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number. If the crime is in progress, call 999.
• It is an offence to drive a car without number plates, so you must report the loss of your number plates as soon as you can.
• Fit theft-proof screws or special number plates to your vehicle.
• ‘Clutch head’ screws are specially-designed to be virtually impossible to remove once they’ve been fitted. They are very cheap to buy and easy to fit. Thanks to some external funding, some Neighbourhood Policing teams are able to provide these screws free of charge. Please contact your local Neighbourhood Policing team via 101 to find out more.
• Special number plates are designed to break apart if they are forcibly removed from a vehicle. For more information, visit the SecurePlate website (opens new window).

Thames Valley Police does not endorse any particular supplier. We recommend that you contact your vehicle’s manufacturer and seek warranty advice before fitting.