<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Casey, located in southeast outer-Melbourne, has been singled out by police as the worst area in all of Victoria for number plate theft with more than 2000 reports in the last 12 months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than half of all thefts from vehicles in Casey, as well as Greater Dandenong and Cardinia - both in Casey's surrounds - also related to stolen number plates. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hume (1408), Greater Dandenong (1374), Wyndham (1121), and Brimbank (1110) followed Casey for most reports overall for number plate theft reports in the state, with all except Brimbank located in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/north-macedonia-nightclub-fire-dozens-killed-in-massive-fire-in-kocani/f10d5a4a-0263-4861-92c0-e2e028045d77" target="_blank"><strong><span>'I don't need my life anymore': Nation rocked by worst tragedy in memory</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police also identified hotbeds of license plate theft in areas within a 500-metre radius of Attenborough Street and Cheltenham Road, Dandenong; Kidds Road and Power Road, Doveton; Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre; Fountain Gate Shopping Centre; and McGregor Road and Main Street, Pakenham.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>License plate theft is often used to further other crimes, said Victorian Police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Stolen number plates are attached to other vehicles – many of which are stolen – to help offenders fly under the radar and commit further crimes including aggravated burglaries, arson attacks, drug trafficking and petrol drive-offs," Casey Local Area Commander Inspector Stu Richards said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/casey-worst-in-victoria-state-for-number-plate-theft-australia-police/0cb70a0d-dbb1-4bd0-adcd-c364081a07a4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only 22 per cent of stolen plates are recovered, with police encouraging residents to taking precautions where possible to prevent theft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/el-salvador-new-terrorist-prison-opens-human-rights-criticisms-first-prisoners-arrive/ff983c9c-1b3e-450e-b975-046838dc1c22" target="_blank"><strong><span>Inside the brutal foreign prison where Trump is sending 'criminals'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police recommend parking in a secure area like a garage, and using anti-theft screws available at local police stations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Having to replace your plates is not only an inconvenience, it's also costly," Inspector Richards said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Especially if you keep receiving tolls or fines once they're in the hands of criminals."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three arrests for license plate theft have been made by Victorian Police in the past several months, all charged for other offences including alleged drug possession, petrol theft, handling stolen goods, aggravated burglary, and car theft.</span></div></div>