DVLA Records 7,381 Number-Plate Thefts Last Year, Up 30 Percent

Number plate thefts reported to the DVLA rose 30 percent to 7,381 in the most recent full year from 5,683 the year before, GB News reported. The total has more than doubled since 3,376 reports in 2021. Suspected cloning cases recorded by the agency climbed 53 percent to 11,394 last year from 7,430 in 2021.

The DVLA has received more than 30,000 reports of suspected plate cloning in recent years. Criminals use stolen or copied plates to avoid detection during offences, GB News reported, leaving vehicle owners to receive penalty notices for speeding, parking, bus lane or congestion charge violations they did not commit. Many drivers learn of the theft only after notices arrive.

Neil Atkinson, owner of Carrosserie, stated that number plate theft is a serious and growing problem. He recommended fitting anti-tamper screws that cost around £2.50 a set. The screws can be installed with a standard flat-blade screwdriver but are extremely difficult to remove without specialist tools, Atkinson said.

He added that the devices act as a genuine deterrent because thieves move on when a vehicle takes longer to target. Motorists who suspect cloning should watch for unexpected notices or letters from private parking companies for locations they have never visited, GB News reported. Photographs of a different vehicle or footage showing their own car parked elsewhere can help prove the case.