Police warn of increased licence plate theft in West Niagara

Police are warning residents of an increase in the number of licence plates being stolen in the West Niagara area.

Police say there have been more than 10 reported incidents since late December 2023.

Thieves are reportedly targeting vehicles parked in car dealerships or residential driveways.

They want to target vehicles with a similar make, model, and colour as the illegal one they are driving.

In some cases, the stolen plates have been replaced with a similar paper or 3D printed decoy, and the crime has gone undetected by the registered owner for weeks.

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Police say licence plates stole from Niagara have been linked to criminal investigation in Hamilton and the GTA.

Niagara police recommend the following to prevent licence plate theft:

• Use anti-theft screws
• Park in secure locations
• Store old plates securely
• Check licence plates regularly
• Use tamper-proof frames
• Install security cameras