Innocent motorists lose number plates as thefts increase

New figures show crime is on the rise in town

Number plate thefts are on the rise in Kent, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Ten out of 13 local authorities saw an increase in the number of thefts in 2018, compared to the previous two years.

Ashford saw 53 thefts in 2018 while Medway, Dartford and Sevenoaks had the highest rates of number plate theft in the county.

Chief inspector Guy Thompson said: “The rise in number plate theft is a national issue and it is not isolated to Kent.

“It allows criminals to clone other cars. These vehicles are then often linked to more serious offences such as burglary, or stealing fuel from petrol stations.

“This kind of theft can leave innocent drivers facing penalties for charges they haven’t incurred, such as speeding fines and congestion fees.”

Sevenoaks experienced the highest increase in a one year period - rising from 67 in 2017 to 121 the following year.

Overall, 1,142 incidents were recorded in the county last year - up from 810 in 2017.

Last month, a Kennington resident fell victim to the crime after he went into a petrol garage to pay for fuel.

Ryan Pepper, 20, was shocked to find that the number plates had been stolen from his Ford Fiesta after he came out of the BP garage in Hythe Road, Willesborough.

He has now decided to display his front personalised number plate in the windscreen of his car as he says he cannot afford to replace the plates again.

He said: “When I get pulled over by police asking why my front plate is in my windscreen and not on my car, I have to explain that my custom registration is worth a lot of money and I can’t afford to keep having my plate stolen.”

Another resident had the number plates removed from her car overnight while it was parked outside her house in Hurst Road, Kennington.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “The plates were on my car at 10.30pm on a Friday night and when I left my house at 7am the following morning they were gone.

“My car was parked right outside my garden gate in a little car park at the back of my house.

“They took the back one easily as it was taped on but they must have damaged the front one a little as it was fixed on with screws.

“The number plates were stolen the same night a BMW was stolen from another part of Kennington.

“Police just recorded it and didn’t investigate, so I have no idea if they were ever found.

“I think they were on the BMW that was stolen, but there is no solid evidence.”

The most recent example of the theft was in Tenterden last week when the neighbourhood watch team issued an appeal to warn residents about a spate of number plate crimes in the Cranbrook Road and Causton Wood area.

Police say they are cracking down on number plates thefts in Kent.

Ch Insp Thompson added: “We are working hard to deter and detect criminals but we also need drivers to play their part and ensure their vehicles are secure as possible.

“Across the county we have run crime reduction workshops where tamper proof screws have been handed out to motorists.

“The screws secure their number plate and it makes it harder to steal.

“If anyone has information about those responsible for number plate theft I would ask them to contact police or the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent.”

▪ Have you fallen foul to a number plate theft? Email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

New figures obtained by the Kentish Express show the amount of number plate thefts in Kent over the last three years

A blue Ford KA was targeted in Canterbury

Ryan Pepper now keeps his front plate inside his Fiesta