Plate theft numbers rise

NUMBER plate thefts have jumped by 50 per cent in Greater Dandenong in the past three months, prompting a police crackdown.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen said thieves stole plates from 95 cars in the police service area (PSA) between 1 September and 30 November.
“From this week we will be mounting a covert and overt operation on some of the major highways, shopping centres and petrol stations to try and detect these people that are using these number plates,” he said.
“We suspect that they are being used for illegal means – petrol theft, e-TAG evasion and committing other criminal offences.
“Also, some of them don’t have the money to register their car.”
Insp Kitchen said the operation would run for a month, and urged motorists to use one-way screws to help prevent the thefts.