INDIANAPOLIS – Several license plate thefts have been reported across Indianapolis over the last few days.
Police say it’s a crime that’s more common than one might think, but if you fall victim don’t expect to get your replacement plate right away.
Police say the stolen plates often end up on stolen cars or are used to hide expired plates. Sometimes those plates are resold on the street.
“Some people will use them after their plates expired off their car,” said IMPD Officer Mike Hewitt. “Sometimes people will take a license plate that they’ve just stolen and they’ll put it on a car they’re going to use to commit another crime.”
So what do you need to do if your license plate gets stolen?
If your Indiana license plates and/or registration stickers were lost, stolen, or damaged beyond recognition, you should request a replacement/duplicate with the Indiana BMV.
- To request a replacement, visit your local Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office and:
- Complete an Application for Replacement or Duplicate License Plate. On the form you'll need to include:
- Your name.
- The vehicle identification number, make, model, year, type, and color.
- Your address.
- An indication of whether the plates were lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
- Whether you want a duplicate (same license plate number) or a replacement (new number).
- The top section completed by a law enforcement officer, if your plates were stolen.
- Pay the $9.50 replacement/duplicate license plate/sticker fee.
There aren’t a lot of ways to protect your license plate from being stolen, but police say the easiest thing you can do is to keep your vehicle inside a garage.
They also say making it harder to remove can help deter thieves and keep you from being an easy target.
Some easy ways to do this are to fasten all four bolts around the plate or to use special anti-theft screws to fasten it onto the back of your car.
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