Motorists can now obtain theft-resistant licence plate screws to impede thieves from swapping or stealing a plate.
“Licence plate theft is quite a significant problem for the public,” said Okotoks peace officer Devon Bartek.
That problem ties in to the larger issue of motor vehicle theft and can mean more than the cost of a new plate.
“If you don't notice it right away, the thief now has your plate and chances are they probably throw it on a stolen vehicle,” he said.
Often, the plate from the stolen vehicle is then placed on the victim’s.
“You see there's a plate on there and you don't really realize it's not your plate," he said.
Car thieves often scout a vehicle of similar make and model, Bartek pointed out.
The stolen plate provides cover for the thief should law enforcement check a plate number in traffic, while the victim unknowingly drives around with a plate associated with a stolen vehicle.
Unless reported, that cover is only blown if a police or peace officer initiates a traffic stop and checks it against the vehicle’s VIN number, which isn’t a likely scenario unless there are other suspicions, said Bartek.
“You're less likely to notice your plate missing than your vehicle, so they can go longer before that plate is then reported stolen," he said.
“Then they’re able to continue on with their criminal activity using that plate.”
This also puts the victim on the spot for any infractions associated with the plate.
“If they run any red lights or photo radar, all those tickets go to the registered owner of that plate,” Bartek said. “Now you have to spend time in court and explain the situation and have proof that your plate was stolen”
The peace officer personally encountered the exact problem with a driver in April.
“I pulled him over because his plate didn’t match the vehicle,” he said, “It was a stolen plate, but he had no idea.”
Bartek was able to determine the driver had valid registration for their vehicle and the man was sent on his way, but still with a human cost.
“Unfortunately, it cost him to go to the registrar’s office and get his plate situation sorted out while he was trying to go to work.”
The screws are designed with a rounded head and groove that can only be turned clockwise with a flat-head screwdriver, the aim being to drastically hinder plate-snatchers hoping to work quickly.
They are part of a two-pronged approach, Bartek added, coming attached to a pamphlet aimed to create awareness of the problem and educate residents.
This includes other tips such as not leaving a vehicle running while unattended, keeping valuables out of site or out of the vehicle, and ensuring the vehicle is locked at all times.
Motor vehicle thefts were down within Okotoks from 57 in 2019 to 44 in 2020, and 178 to 133 across the Foothills region’s detachments.
The decrease, however, was attributed to people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Okotoks RCMP Staff Sgt. Zane Semeniuk said in a Feb. 22 report to council.
The problem remains significant, with Alberta seeing over 24,000 vehicles stolen per year, according to the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board.
The screws and pamphlet can be obtained at the front desk of the Okotoks RCMP detachment, as well as the Municipal Centre once reopened, Bartek said, as well as from town peace officers who will be distributing them in the community.
