INDIANAPOLIS -- More than a dozen license plate thefts have been reported across Indianapolis in a four-day period and police say it’s a common crime – but if you do become a victim don’t expect to be able to get a new plate right away.
Police say 14 license plates were stolen in Indianapolis between June 20 and June 23. So far no arrests have been made.
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.
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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