Stolen License Plates!!

Don M

Don M

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Now that I've got your attention, do you want to slow down, or completely prevent this from happening?


I don't know how it is in everyone's area, but in my area, license plate theft is on the rise (again) and there is a cheap way to slow down the theft or completely prevent your plates from being stolen AND at the same time, make it easier for YOU to remove your plates at will (these are stainless steel and don't rust & freeze in place).


I was browsing the car-parts section of my local Wally World and discovered a set of "Anti-Theft License Plate Fasteners." Basically they are Hex-Head screws with the security post in the middle of the opening. So unless you have a hex-head wrench with the hole in the ends to mate up with the head of the screw, you ain't getting the plates off without major damage to the plates, not to mention the amount of wasted time trying to get the screws out ... crooks want fast & easy and these are anything but. Most license plate screws are flat-head, you can remove them with a coin, but not these. Phillip's head screws are a LITTLE safer, but a small enough flat screwdriver will still remove them. not these.


They cost me about $10 and took less than 10 minutes to change over on both my wife's Explorer and my Camaro. Not bad for a few bucks and a few minutes of your time to get some peace of mind.


4
 
Really neat finding, your post brought back some memories...

When I was little my parents took us to Florida. My dads plate was stolen, he got pulled over, had to get new plates deal with the DMV, typical fun stuff that everyone wants to deal with. He finally got the new plates and made sure they would never come off again. Im not sure what he did but he swore no one could ever remove them. Fast forward 10 years, he gave the car to my brother and I to use, I guess no plate transfer was needed. So the plate remained on the car, we were relieved because my dad said that plate was now a permanent part of the car.

Another 8 years later I traded in the car for my first new car, as we are finalizing things at the dealer, our sales person goes to remove the plate. A few minutes later he comes back in and says the plate won't come off. He gets a mechanic to assist. My dad looks over at me and says something like I guess my idea worked. After many attempts, the mechanic finally grinds off the bolts holding on the plate. I really need to find out what he did, at that time I was young and didn't care, now it may be useful info.


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Good stuff! My brother had the plates stolen off of his truck a few years back. What a headache that turned into.

I'm surprised the kit didn't come with a security Torx head screws and bit. Those are even way more secure than Phillips heads. You've got to be a very determined thief to get those out.

FWIW: a similar post I made a few years back, Don M, you even commented on it ;)

https://www.autogeekonline.net/foru...re-how-upgrade-your-license-plate-screws.html
 
I clicked on the link and I remember your thread and posting on it about how neat of an idea it was. At the time I was just too lazy to do it, but when I noticed all the new theft of plates reports my agency has been making and I saw these things at Walmart I snapped them up without a 2nd thought (of course it took me 3 days to put them on, but at least now it's done).

Of course, when the wife asked what I was doing & I told her that I was making the license plates harder to steal from the cars, she said on YOUR car or on OUR cars!? Any married man can tell you that what she said translates to: "If you do your car, you HAD BETTER BE PLANNING ON DOING MY CAR TOO!"
 
Heck mine got stolen probably 20 years ago now. Took a few weeks to get it back had to drive a couple hours away to the police station to get it. Nothing like coming out to your car and notice your plate is gone.


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About 30 seconds with a cordless drill and your plate is still gone....just saying.
 
If they have a tamper proof screw or some other oddball configuration like a torx etc. the low life scum ball may not have the tool to steal the plate.

Dave
 
I suppose you could really make it hard and mix the screws used.. a flat head, philips, security torx and a hex head all on the same plate. I doubt a thief will have all the options handy or want to mess around changing his tools. He'll just steal the plates on the car next to yours.
 
brettS4 said:
I suppose you could really make it hard and mix the screws used.. a flat head, philips, security torx and a hex head all on the same plate. I doubt a thief will have all the options handy or want to mess around changing his tools. He'll just steal the plates on the car next to yours.
Click to expand...

Now there's an idea. Put some velcro on the middle area of the plate, that should drive them crazy.

Dave
 
Actually, the best method would simply be to use one way screws.

By the way, I obviously don't worry about license plate theft. My front plate is held on only with magnets. Any toddler could pop it off in one second. Been that way for a year with no issues.
 
Permanent Loctite & drill them out when it's time for new plate. I don't think the thugs will want to draw attention to themselves by drilling them out. They will just move to an easier target. Kinda like having noisy dogs in your house,the thugs just move on to a house that is quiet.
 
A few weeks back while I was having a beer with my nextdoor neighbor he told me a story about how he saw some idiot on a bike dragging what must've been a 50' garden hose behind him... Yup, guys stealing garden hoses. Smh.

My brand new Flexzilla just so happened to arrive the next day... And with it being so dang bright and attention grabbing, I've legit been almost worried it might get stolen. I coil that hose up and try to keep it out of sight. It's a shame because it's a real nice looking hose.


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Our tab renewal fees in the Seattle are have just shot up so this is a timely thread. I bought a couple of security screws from
Lowes that will do the trick.
 
bal said:
Our tab renewal fees in the Seattle are have just shot up so this is a timely thread. I bought a couple of security screws from
Lowes that will do the trick.
Click to expand...

Yea another problem here is when people keep piling on stickers year after year. When you have enough build up stickers you can simply pull the chunk off and the current year is reusable so you dont have to buy a new sticker.

They always say to strip off the old one but not many people do.


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