In a release issued yesterday, February 1, police said they are urging persons with disabled or inoperable vehicles along roadsides or in unsecured lots – whether temporarily, or permanently – to secure their licence plates.

The RVIPF said it has recorded an upsurge in the theft of not one but both licence plates from vehicles left at unsecured locations.

According to Road Town Chief Inspector Smyrna Brewley, these licence plates could easily be used on other vehicles to commit a crime and evade detection from the police.

Police said they are advising vehicle owners to remove and secure their plates and all other easily removable items in and around their vehicles.

Brewley also said that persons should make a report to the police as soon as their licence plates are discovered missing.

The issue of persons caught in the commission of crimes while carrying false vehicle license plates has engaged the attention of the courts previously. However, the RVIPF did not provide any statistics about how this has changed recently.

The RVIPF invited persons with information on suspects stealing licence plates from vehicles to contact their Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.