Free Irreversible Number Plate Screws for SW Sydney
This was posted 420 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal
Bit of a weird freebie, but its free!
Operation Tabella is a joint initiative by the NSW Police Force and the NSW Attorney-General’s Department to combat number plate theft in the South-West metropolitan area of Sydney.
Over several days in July and August (see times and venues below), police from 14 Local Area Commands will establish “special fitting stations” at railway stations, shopping centres and other public venues to provide “one-way” or irreversible number plate screws to drivers, free of charge.
Funded by the Attorney-General’s Department, the operation is being supported by a range of community-minded organisations including the NRMA, TAFE, Railcorp, PCYCs, local councils, Beaurepaires, Bunnings, Westfield and Coles.
The theft of number plates is a major concern for authorities.
Latest figures suggest licence plate thefts account for 12% of items stolen from motor vehicles.
The stolen plates are often used in service station drive-offs, robberies and road toll fraud.
The fitting stations will have access to enough screws to fit 12,000 motor vehicles over the five designated public fitting days.
The screws will be available free beyond those dates until Wednesday 30 September.
Motorists should contact their local police station or keep an eye out for information about additional smaller, localised fitting sessions.
The fitting process takes just moments and drivers are urged to fill out a copy of the indemnity form to present to fitting station staff.
The screws can only be removed by a special tool provided to police in the 14 South-Western Sydney Local Area Commands.
Anyone who witnesses the theft of number plates should report the matter to their local police or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
I don’t get it.. Does the RTA also have the special screwdriver tool? What about when you get personalised plates at the RTA and have to DIY? I remember once when I went, they couldn’t even lend me a regular screwdriver..
Seems like more trouble than it’s worth.
Also the fitting stations are only in the western suburbs..
Nothing against the bargain itself, I just think the whole idea is a bit ridiculous.
Haha I couldn’t agree more
The RTA are absolute *********** (some long word im not sure of lol)
The RTA will charge you $120 to use the tool, you’ll have to fill out paperwork
And then keep charging you that price each year to keep the tool at their office
Typical
not weird.
thieves once came and stole my license plates in driveway, not on street.
they then use the plates to rob or ram raid.
Haha. This is a good idea. Hopefully panel beaters have the screw-drivers too, or it’ll add more hassle in a fender bender when you have to get your bumper replaced. Another idea is to use torx screws in you car, it’s not perfect, but the average petrol stealing idiot isn’t likely to carry a torx set.
They don’t actually make too much difference, they are incredibly easy to unscrew, if you know how. I guess it deters people from your plates in preference of easier targets with regular screws.
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Alternatively, just super-glue the screws. I think I’ll do that for my car.
The police can’t promote that trick, or the thieves would just start carrying solvent.