Police blame petrol prices for number plate thefts

Police are blaming rising petrol prices for an increase in number plate thefts.

Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Le Bas said Christchurch Police had noticed more number plate thefts being reported.

"I haven't seen such a number of thefts of plates being reported before on such a regular basis. We know these are being used in petrol drive offs," she said.

She said number plate theft used to be reported "every now and then" but now it was an everyday occurrence.

Ms Le Bas said people should park off the street when possible or in a well lit area where their cars could be seen.

She said people could also look at replacing the screws on their number plate with rivets.

- NZHERALD STAFF