THIEVES have been stealing vehicle number plates across Castle Point.

Police have received a string of reports about plates disappearing from cars.

It is believed crooks use them to get away with fuel without paying, to avoid parking tickets and possibly commit more serious crimes.

Police had ten reports of this type of crime in the borough last month.

Eileen Coppick, 61, had her plates stolen twice within a week.

The thieves took them from her car parked in her driveway, in Benfleet Park Road, Benfleet.

She said: “The first time I assumed it had just fallen off while I was driving and I replaced it, but there was a screw left on my driveway, which was a bit strange.

“A few days later the new number plate was stolen as well.

“When I spoke to the dealership, they told me they are often stolen for use in crime or to avoid parking charges.

“One of the men said it had happened to his wife a while ago and she’d got a parking ticket.

“Fortunately, she could prove she was somewhere else at the time.

“I thought it was such a crazy thing to steal. Initially you think it’s kids doing it for a dare.

“But I looked at it and there was no damage to the car, which you’d get if someone had just ripped it off, so these people knew what they were doing.”

Insp Chris Wood, of Canvey police, said: “At the moment we don’t know why number plates are being targeted specifically.

“But they are often used to disguise vehicles used in crime, particularly in terms of offences where they make off without paying for petrol.”

The advice is to be vigilant if you see anyone crouching by a car in your street.

You can also buy anti-theft screws to prevent the number plate being removed.

Anyone with information about the thefts should call Canvey police on 101.