Stolen Number Plates

chris009

Hi Guys,



I hope you're well.



I had a real shock yesterday evening!



When I arrived home from work somebody had stolen both number plates off my car.



I don't drive the car all that often and they could have been taken anytime between Tuesday evening and Thursday evening.



As soon as I noticed the plates had been stolen I reported it to the police and obtained a crime reference number and also to the DVLA.



I'm terrified now that i'm going to start receiving all kinds of fines and summons for things I haven't done.



I have kept the receipt for replacing the plates at Halfords and I have tried to do everything in my power to protect myself.



Having done some research I have found all kinds of horror stories of people being fined for speeding and parking tickets and not being able to prove it wasn't them. Even when it was a different model of car.



Does anybody have experience of dealing with this issue, and if there is anything else I can do to protect myself?



Any advice would be helpful.



Thanks,



Chris

foxy-stoat

Only that you have already informed the police and kept receipt for the new number plates. If you do get letters for stolen fuel or parking fines then demand to see video footage. Keep all receipts for purchases in case you have to prove that you, or your debit/credit cards are somewhere else if that helps.

Maybe look for a cheap private registration plate, although maybe extreme, it would put your mind at rest once the plates have been swapped over, probably work out a few hundred pounds though.

AdrianC

Yes, there might be a bit of hassle while those plates are on somebody else's car.

But you have an excellent defence if you do get any incorrect photos come through. But, of course, cloning plates doesn't require something as unsubtle as actually nicking them. Naughty people have ways in which they can acquire plates without producing proof of entitlement/identity.

If the plates are on a visually different vehicle, then the photos will be easy to disprove. It's if the vehicle is visually similar to yours that things might get tricky, and then you've got the crime number to fall back to.

If you're really worried, DVLA will issue you a new reg. But that's overkill. Chances are they were used for a one-off, perhaps in conjunction with another crime. Driving around with plates that you know stand a good chance of having a flag against them would be just stupid.

Farway

AdrianC wrote: »

If you're really worried, DVLA will issue you a new reg. But that's overkill. Chances are they were used for a one-off, perhaps in conjunction with another crime. Driving around with plates that you know stand a good chance of having a flag against them would be just stupid.

There may be a slight possibility of OP being pulled over just because the plates have been used in a crime
Keep the crime number handy just in case it happens going about your lawful business

AdrianC

Farway wrote: »

There may be a slight possibility of OP being pulled over just because the plates have been used in a crime

Yes, indeed. "No, it's OK, I'm the real me. Here's my driving licence..."

chris009

Hi Guys,

Thank you so much for the swift replies.

I have to be honest, I'm really worried about this.

I'm not sure if I should buy new reg plates to remove the worry.

I had a look on the website and it looks like a new reg is £250.00.

Extortionate but it may be worthwhile to prevent any further worry!

Thanks,

Chris

AdrianC

chris009 wrote: »

I'm not sure if I should buy new reg plates to remove the worry.

I had a look on the website and it looks like a new reg is £250.00.

That's buying a "private plate". You can speak to DVLA and they'll allocate a "normal" one for free.

Effectively what you're doing is this...
https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/give-up-private-number

Manxman_in_exile

Isn't it a bit pointless actually physically stealing someone's plates, unless you're planning on immediately committing a one-off smash and grab raid or bank heist, and dumping them straight away? (Maybe they are!)

facade

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Isn't it a bit pointless actually physically stealing someone's plates, unless you're planning on immediately committing a one-off smash and grab raid or bank heist, and dumping them straight away? (Maybe they are!)

It is usually on the way to a petrol station, to fill up and drive away without paying. (Bilking)


Normally criminals work far harder to steal stuff worth pence to sell than they would if they had a minimum wage job, but bilking can put £60 worth of fuel in the white Audi that they cruise round in looking for other stuff to steal.

chris009

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to look into this.

Apologies, please can you explain a little further as I was a bit confused with the info on the link you posted.

Many Thanks!

Chris

AdrianC

chris009 wrote: »

Apologies, please can you explain a little further as I was a bit confused with the info on the link you posted.

It helps if you quote who you're replying to.

Do I presume you mean...

AdrianC wrote: »

That's buying a "private plate". You can speak to DVLA and they'll allocate a "normal" one for free.

Effectively what you're doing is this...
https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/give-up-private-number

A private plate is just a plate. You can transfer any plate off any car onto either another car or a piece of paper called a retention certificate. That costs £80. DVLA will put another, previously unissued, plate onto the car because all cars need a plate.
If you then say to them "Well, I don't actually want to keep it", they'll refund the £80.

In circumstances like these, I gather they often just cut out the middle steps and say "OK, bin that plate, your car is now AB12CDE. Get the plastic made up and tell your insurers." for free.