Police offer free one-way screws to foil number plate thefts

POLICE at Bexhill have obtained a supply of one-way screws to give to the public as part of the Sussex Police campaign to counter the spate of vehicle number-plate thefts.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Apr 2008, 13:35 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:06 BST

Supplies of the self-tapping screws - which once tightened in place can only be removed by drilling them out - are also being made available by police for distribution from local shops and offices - including the Observer office at 18 Sackville Road.

The Observer told last week how thieves are stealing the number plates off parked cars, putting them on their own cars to use in drive-off offences at filling stations.

Some 64 number plate thefts from across Sussex were reported to Sussex Police during March. The spate of number plate thefts has been fuelled by the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps.Members of the public applying for the free one-way screws and plastic washers are advised that there are three sizes of screw - Number 8, Number 10 and Number 12 - and that they should check which size they require.