It’s a small solution for a big problem, but Metford Neighbourhood Watch believe it’s enough to prevent thieves from getting their hands on your number plates.
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The group handed out and installed free security screws at the Metford United Petrol Station on Saturday to help residents protect their licence plates.
The group installed the screws on about 30 cars, and also handed out free air-fresheners reminding people to lock their vehicles and remove valuables.
Neighbourhood Watch Hunter Region coordinator Bill Hackney said he was surprised by the number of people who turned up to the giveaway.
“It exceeded our expectations,” he said. “At one stage I was afraid we were going to run out.”
Mr Hackney said the normal Philips head screws that hold a number plate on would only take a standard screwdriver to remove.
But the anti-theft screws need a specific tool in order to take off the plate.
“It’s not a readily available bit,” he said. “The every day criminal is not going to have one.
“Unfortunately that means they’re going to move onto the next car. But the more cars that have them, the more secure they’ll be.”
Mr Hackney said number plate theft was a common issue for this area.
“There are certainly cases of it in the Hunter, it has been noted in Maitland,” he said.
Central Hunter crime prevention officer Senior Constable Kel Boak said number plate theft was a “constant issue” for police, and that there was a link between the crime and fuel theft from petrol stations.
Mr Boak said police supported the initiative, which he said was a “positive step” in crime prevention.
Mr Hackney said he hoped the screws would act as a deterrent, which would hopefully in turn lead to a reduction in crime.
“It’s such a simple task and once it’s done your plates are virtually safe,” Mr Hackney said.
The initiative was also a chance to educate people, he said, considering many residents didn’t know why the group was doing the giveaway.
“The more we can educate people in protecting their product, the more it can make a difference,” Mr Hackney said. “If we can stop one plate being stolen I think we’ve done our job.”
Mr Hackney said Metford Neighbourhood Watch planned to do another giveaway of the security screws sometime in the new year.
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
