Counties Manukau Police have resolved 35 cases relating to petrol drive-offs and number plate thefts around Counties Manukau District following the apprehension of five people (four of these people were arrested and one referred to Youth Aid).
Approximately 20 number plates were stolen to be used in the commission of the crimes and the group has been collectively charged with a number of petrol drive-offs (thefts), totalling $1,158.47 worth of petrol. This group used the stolen plates once or twice then disposed of them and replaced it with another stolen plate in an attempt to avoid detection and identification.
Three search warrants were conducted in Mangere earlier this month, leading to the five apprehensions.
Inspector Bronwyn Marshall, Counties Manukau Police District Prevention Manager, says the apprehension of this group is a positive step towards reducing crime in the District.
In 2014 there was a 21% increase in stolen vehicle registration plates in Counties Manukau, which this group has demonstrated can be used to facilitate further crime and evade detection by Police.
“While the majority of stolen or presumed stolen plates never come to Police attention in further offending, over the past twelve months we have seen a 27% increase in the number of stolen plates that have been recorded in subsequent offences,” says Inspector Marshall.
“This is still a small number of offences, but crimes that are related to the theft of stolen number plates include: theft of petrol (petrol drive-offs), avoidance of traffic related fines or tolls and other types of crime such as shoplifting, burglary or robbery.
“We are aware that many people might not report to Police when their licence plates are stolen, thinking it may have fallen off, but the reality is that it’s more likely a plate has been intentionally removed than it is to have just ‘fallen off’.
“When you notice one or two of your plates missing, let us know so that we can create a record of the fact the plates have been taken,” says Inspector Marshall.
“It’s important that we all do what we can to ensure that offenders don’t have access to tools that assist them in committing crime. Your numberplate is one tool we can make it more difficult for offender to get access to by using tamper-proof numberplate screws.”
Counties Manukau Police and Community Patrols NZ have conducted several “Safer Plates” community days around the District to encourage members of the public to upgrade the screws on their number plates to make them tamper-proof.
“The Safer Plates initiative is great for the community to help us prevent the use of stolen plates in crimes. We are changing the screws on our patrol vehicles and strongly encourage the Counties-Manukau community to follow suit.”
The Safer Plates initiative will be run in Counties Manukau with Community Patrols NZ on 28 March at Botany Town Centre as part of the Everyday Heroes event between 10am and 2pm. So far the group has changed the screws on around 1600 cars throughout the District.
The cost is $4 ($1 per screw) to change to tamper-proof screws. Doing this will help prevent licence plate theft and reduce the opportunity for an offender to use a stolen plate in the commission of a crime.
ENDS
Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
021 192 0717