Another spike in thefts of car number plates has prompted police to push for drivers to get anti-theft screws in place.
Footscray police leading senior constable Matt Bextream said there had been a rise in car-related thefts in the west.
“We are having problems with theft from motor vehicles, and 50 per cent of these are made up of number plate thefts,” he said. “They are mainly happening in residential streets.”
More than 1000 thefts from vehicles were recorded in Maribyrnong last year, the area’s single largest crime category.
Offenders often use stolen plates when carrying out other crimes, such as stealing petrol.
Police are letterboxing this month to remind people to remove valuables from their cars.
They are also holding a joint Safeplate day on Saturday, June 25, with West Footscray Neighbourhood Watch and Bunnings, at Bunnings West Footscray, 10am–2pm.
Check out the #Safeplate initiative launched today at Wyndham City https://t.co/0P2QHq99uX #wyndhamcity pic.twitter.com/pspEVbYcZa
— Wyndham City Living (@WyndhamLiving) May 26, 2016
