Free Irreversible Number Plate Screws for SW Sydney

This was posted 215 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal

Free Irreversible Number Plate Screws for SW Sydney

deanau on 10/07/2009 - 11:57 (www.police.nsw.gov.au)

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.

Store Profile

Nsw.gov.au (unprofiled)

Deals from nsw.gov.au

+3 votes

freddy on 10/07/2009 - 12:06 ¶

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.

0 vote

Fiep on 10/07/2009 - 12:54 ¶

Got mine free a few months ago in Melbourne after my plates were stolen in the station car park. Costs about $6 in the auto shops and they are very easy to fit.

0 vote

DP1000 on 10/07/2009 - 14:12 ¶

Very good. Basic yellow NSW number plates cost $36 from the RTA to replace regardless if stolen or lost.

-1 vote

tiberio on 10/07/2009 - 15:01 ¶

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.

0 vote

Fiep on 10/07/2009 - 15:24 ¶

You will only need the special screwdriver when taking the screws off. I think you will have to go to the police station to do that. But for putting it on, you can just use the regular screwdriver.

0 vote

tiberio on 10/07/2009 - 17:44 ¶

yeh so what if you’re at the RTA and need to take your plates off to put new ones on? aren’t you screwed? (pardon the pun..)

0 vote

callumogrady on 13/08/2009 - 18:45 ¶

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

0 vote

Kranbone on 10/07/2009 - 16:27 ¶

It’s a weird freebie but still a freebie and practical so it definitely gets a positive from me. Also great comments from those above (giving a heads up on where you can get something similar at a fair price) :)

+1 vote

Peccadilloes on 10/07/2009 - 17:20 ¶

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.

0 vote

itsross on 10/07/2009 - 18:40 ¶

Yeah that happened to us too…except minus the ram raid. Think they just stole some petrol then the plates were found on another car 100’s on KM away.

-1 vote

gstfree on 10/07/2009 - 18:39 ¶

what’s the incentives to steal the bloody plates?

0 vote

itsross on 10/07/2009 - 18:42 ¶

Commit a robbery, or most commonly fill the car up with petrol then drive off. It happens A LOT.

+1 vote

qiang on 10/07/2009 - 22:39 ¶

man some ppl can be so low and cheap!
they should go on ozbargain more often, won’t have to steal number plates with the leftover cash lol

0 vote

happykamper on 10/07/2009 - 23:43 ¶

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.

0 vote

wickedwill on 11/07/2009 - 00:49 ¶

Does anyone know if these will fit my ‘77 Piaggio Scooter?

0 vote

swimmingtoad on 14/07/2009 - 16:29 ¶

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.