Licence plate theft soars in Regina; special screws may help protect

Thieves continue to target licence plates in Regina.

Police said in the week of Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 there were 11 plates stolen. This problem is nothing new, as officers have been dealing with the issue throughout the entire year as numbers have been steadily increasing. So far in 2016, a total of 320 licence plates have been stolen, compared to 201 in 2015 at the same time. In 2014, 96 plates had been stolen up until this point.

Regina police say thefts are going up simply because thieves are realizing they can steal plates and largely get away with it. Often, plates will get stolen and used as part of other crimes, such as robberies.

There isn’t one type of vehicle more likely to be stolen. In the past, Honda Civics had the bull’s-eye. Now, all makes and models of different years and colours are susceptible.

What can be done to help prevent plates from disappearing?

Police suggest going online or to a business where vehicle parts are sold and buying anti-theft screws. People should also park in a locked garage or in a driveway, if possible, instead of on the street. Vehicle owners are also being told to get into the habit of frequently glancing to see if licence plates are where they’re supposed to be.