Sometimes, thieves don’t bother to pinch the car, they just steal the number plates, causing other damage in the process for some reason which has to be claimed for from your insurance policy.
If you want to protect your vehicle registration plate from theft, consider fitting the plates with security screws.
In some parts of the country, local garages are setting up agreements with their Community Safety Partnerships to fit the special screws in order to help prevent thieves stealing your number plate, fitting them to another car, and then going on to complete other criminal activities.
It is a scam particularly popular amongst people that steal fuel from petrol stations and legitimate owners of the registration number can find themselves having to jump through quite a few hoops to get the plate back.
It isn’t too much of a problem for the average car owner but if you have personalised plates, it can be more frustrating.
It will be unlikely that garages will fit these screws for free, but they might, if you are say getting your car serviced or MOT’d at the same time.
It’s certainly worth asking and for your own protection, make sure you notify your car insurance provider if you find you end up changing your registration number.
Remember, it could also involve you in having to pay an admin fee to your insurer.