Coventry car dealers turn the screw on number plate thefts

[dutchman]

Car dealerships in Coventry have signed up to a new scheme to help cut number plate thefts.



From today seven showrooms in the city, as well as others in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, will fit anti-theft number plate screws to every vehicle they sell.

It’s the latest phase in an operation which has also seen police working with petrol retailers to try and cut theft from the pumps.

Every month West Midlands Police receive 300 reports of petrol theft and 250 number plate theft.

Number plate thieves often use the stolen plates to steal fuel.

Chief Insp Andy Beard said: “We’ve already made great progress, having reduced the number of offences by some 30 per cent since its peak in 2011.

“This work has involved us increasing patrols, analysing CCTV into reported thefts and working closely with petrol stations to catch offenders.

“It’s great to now have the dealerships on board because not only are they making it harder for thieves to steal number plates in the first place, but they are also helping reduce the inconvenience and cost caused to members of the public when having to purchase replacement plates.

“I want to thank them for supporting us and for taking the issue so seriously and I hope together we can drive down this reduction in offences even further.

“With an average of around 300 bilkings every month across the force area, it’s still both a local and national problem and something we must continue to address.”

From today if you buy a car from Tile Hill dealerships Guy Salmon Jaguar, Johnson’s Hyundai, Listers Audi, or Listers Audi, Cheylesmore; Robins and Day, Finham; Sutton Park Motor Company, Canley or West Way Nissan, Spon End, it will be fitted with anti-theft screws.

Anyone who wants to fit anti-theft screws to their own vehicle can buy them from most retailers.

As well as fitting the screws retailers will display posters and stickers will be put in cars fitted with tamper-proof screws.

Over the next few weeks giant advertising boards will be touring fuel theft hotspots in an effort to track thieves.

Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones said: “It is good to see the industry working with police to make it harder for the criminals to offend. We are planning to hold a summit event for representatives from the industry.”

[rebbonk]

Really? If the local vagabonds can remove locking wheel nuts and catalysts, then this will be a piece of cake!