Neighbourhood Watch turns the screws on car theft

By Richard Bruinsma

Around 86 motorists had their car’s number plate screws changed, increasing their safety against theft, at the Burnside Neighbourhood Watch “turning the screws” event.
The event, conducted in conjunction with local police, helps guard against number plate theft by installing “one way” screws that require a special tool available only at police stations, to remove.
“The idea is to replace the screws that are easily removed on numberplates, with screws that aren’t easily removed – almost like a one-way screw,” Burnside Neighbourhood Watch area coordinator Rod Brady said.
“It’s a free service from volunteers of the Burnside Neighbourhood Watch group.
“The amazing thing is people are travelling from Yandina, Caloundra, when they hear about it, to come and get it done.
“It’s a really worthwhile activity that the police appreciate because it minimises the number of numberplates that might get knocked off and used in crime.”
Stolen plates are used in a variety of crimes, from simple fuel station drive-offs through to break and enters, robberies and ram-raids.
Mr Brady noted that thieves were getting more cunning, even now stealing plates from cars similar to the one they plan to use in their crimes.
“So that when the CCTV video is checked, they can find the owner by the plate, and the police officer turns up at somebody’s door, and the car matches, the number late was theirs but it had been stolen, so people are using cars that match where the plates came from, in crime,” he explained.
“It’s making it awkward for the innocent citizen.”
Mr Brady noted that there was also a secondary reason why the one-way screws were a good idea.
“If your number plate gets stolen, you’ve got to pay for a new one, so this way, pensioners and so forth, it’s like a free insurance policy.”
The Burnside Neighbourhood Watch held a similar event in 2017 at which 132 motorists had their screws changed.
For more information, visit “Burnside Nambour 5 NHW Group” and “Sunshine Coast Neighbourhood Watch” on Facebook.
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