Gold Coast police have a $7 solution to help fight crime across the city

It costs less than $7 but it could be the solution to fighting crime across the Gold Coast. Find out how.

Police are urging people to fit antitheft screws to their number plates to prevent them from being stolen.

It costs less than $7 but it could be the solution to fighting crime across the Gold Coast.

Motorists are being urged to be vigilant and put antitheft screws on their number plates in a bid to stop their stealing and any crime flowing from missing plates.

It comes in the midst of a number of well-publicised car thefts and an increased reports of number plate thefts on social media.

One motorist said they had their plates stolen while they were shopping at Robina Town Centre.

The theft left the unable to drive until replacements were received.

Since the theft, that person had received eight text messages alerting them their number plates were used in eight different fuel drive offs.

Stolen number plates can be used to commit other crimes.

Gold Coast police district crime prevention Senior Sergeant Bruce Tracey said a stolen number plate can lead to further offences.

And while the majority of cases are not linked to a secondary offence, Sen Sgt Tracey said “that’s not to say they don’t” get used for such purposes.

“The offences that are committed (with stolen number plates) may range from anything from another stealing type offence or a fuel drive off or something like that right through to much more serious offences.”

Sen Sgt Tracey said that trying to prevent number plate theft could prevent further crime down the line.

He said there were some simple steps people could take to help reduce the risk.

“A majority of (number plate thefts) actually occur ‘in the street’,” Sen Sgt Tracey said.

To prevent registration plates being stolen he urged motorists to where possible park in their garage, park in well lit areas and park in areas where there were people.

Sen Sgt Tracey said if none of those were possible, there was a simple and cheap solution for all motorists.

Anti-theft screws.

“It’s comment sense – the more secure an item is, the less chance you have of having it removed,” he said.

One way screws help prevent thieves from making off with number plates from parked cars.

The screws can be purchased from most hardware stores with some advertised online of less than $7 for a pack of 22 screws.

Screws are also available at police stations but stations may not stock screws needed for all vehicle models.

The screws work because they are designed so they cannot be loosened.

Police also proactively offer the screws to people who have had their number plates stolen previously.

Sen Sgt Tracey said if that did not work and number plates were stolen motorists needed to report the theft immediately.

He said the sooner it was reported, the more likely it was for the plates to be tracked down.

The earlier a theft is reported also means that subsequent crimes committed with the number plate like speeding or fuel drive offs, were not linked to the original plate owners.

Motorists who have had their plates stolen are urged not to drive unless it was to return their car home or pick up the new plates from the Department of Transport.

The theft of registration plates can be reported online at www.police.qld.gov.au.

Follow @leae