Number plate cloning

A big issue in the world of numberplates is number plate cloning and number plate security - thieves "clone" car number plates and in effect Clone the identity of a vehicle- meaning any speeding fines or traffic violations will be recorded against the legitimate car which has been cloned

How does it work?

The basis of cloning numberplates or vehicles begins when a thief acquires a vehicle - let's say a Black Mercedes E220Cdi. By finding a similar Black Mercedes E220Cdi and noting the number plate - the criminal then proceeds to have a set of number plates made.

By fixing this new set of number plates to his own Black Mercedes - the thief has "cloned" the car - there are now two Black Mercedes E220Cdi on the road with the same number plates.

Secondary to this; some thieves actually steal the numberplates from the vehicle rather than having a new set made. This crime is obviously far easier to trace as the number plates are stolen- but a thief who has a set of number plates made to your registration will not become apparent until you receive a speeding ticket or parking fine.

How to detect it

If you're number plates are stolen - it's pretty obvious you may be the target of number plate cloning- it's worth calling the police to make them aware your plates have been stolen in the first instance.

Secondly you will need to remain vigilant as over the coming weeks / months if the stolen number plates are used on a car and the law is broken- you will need to be able to prove that it wasn't you and it actually was the vehicle with the stolen plates.

Thieves who clone number plates instead of stealing them are harder to detect- if you receive any penalty charge notices through the post the only way to prove the vehicle isn't yours is by closely identifying any window stickers or distinctive dents or marks on the car.

How to prevent it

Preventing number plate cloning at this time is only possibly by physically securing your number plates so they cannot be stolen from your vehicle. Companies such as Secureplate manufacture number plates which cannot be removed from a vehicle unless you destroy them.

This may sound extreme but the DVLA and the Police are facing more and more instances of number plate crime in the UK so for now at least any such measures - however drastic will help.

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