Warning to car owners in North Surrey following spate of number plate thefts
Submitted: 08/02/2010 14:18:21
Warning to car owners in North Surrey following number plate thefts
POLICE in North Surrey are advising motorists to be alert following a spate of number plate thefts across the Boroughs of Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne.
To date there have been 31 thefts of number plates from motor vehicles recorded since the beginning of the year in North Surrey.
Within Elmbridge there have been ten offences including an incident in Elmgrove Road, Weybridge between 6 pm on Wednesday 27 January and 9 am on Thursday 28 January. The victim had parked their car, a black Audi A6, outside a residential address on the evening of Wednesday 27 January. The next day they discovered that both number plates had been taken overnight. They were described as being Irish number plates.
Runnymede has seen 13 number plate thefts. One incident occurred in Lyne Lane Chertsey between 7 pm on Monday 1 February and 9.30 am on Tuesday 2 February. Once again the victim left their car, a red Rover saloon, outside a residential address, and found the plates removed the next day.
Finally Spelthorne has recorded eight thefts including an incident in Green Lane, Sunbury on Thames, The victim’s car, a silver BMW saloon, was parked in the road between 4.30 pm and 6.15 pm on Thursday 4 February. Within this time the front number plate had been stolen, and the rear plate tampered with.
Police are warning residents to remain vigilant and protect their vehicles from becoming potential targets to the thieves
North Surrey Crime Reduction Officer PC Mark Howells said,
"Clutch-head screws can be purchased at low cost from DIY and car accessory retailers. They can be easily fitted with a screwdriver in place of existing screws but cannot be removed using standard tools. You could also ask about special number plates that shatter when removed, rendering them useless to thieves.
"If your number plates are stolen it is imperative that you report the theft to police immediately. Stolen plates can be fitted to vehicles involved in crime, so by not reporting your plates as stolen you could run the risk of becoming falsely implicated in criminal activity.”
If you have any information about the crimes listed, please contact Surrey Police immediately on 0845 125 2222 quoting references EL/10/653, RM/10/580 and SL/10/908 or alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Call 0845 125 2222 for all non-emergency policing matters.
Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (eg a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger).
Call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have information about crime and don't want to leave your name.
Contact Us
Call 0845 125 2222 for all non-emergency policing matters.
Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (for example a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger).
Crimestoppers
If you have any information about a crime and don't want to leave your name you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.