Number plate theft has risen more than 30% over the past five years, according to police figures.
The data was released to 1News under the Official Information Act.
Despite a dip in 2020, the number of thefts has steadily risen in recent years – peaking last year with 9042 thefts throughout Aotearoa.
Over the past five years, the highest level of plate theft has been in Auckland City, followed by Waitematā, then Canterbury.
"I think it's something like 17 cars this week alone, as many as 30 sometimes across the greater Auckland area so there's a lot of theft," Merril Bourne from Community Patrols New Zealand said.
Community Patrols NZ volunteers – with the help of police – run a programme called Safer Plates, installing tamper-proof screws on cars in busy areas.
"That minimises the risk of plates being used for criminal purposes," Bourne said.
It's something Gary Holmes, from the Dominion Road Business Association in Auckland, has noticed more of recently.
"It definitely is increasing, and Dominion Road, unfortunately is known as the crime corridor of Auckland," he said.
Holmes said initiatives like Safer Plates help, but have limited reach.
"What we want to see is the mandating of tamper-proof screws on all new and used vehicle sales throughout the country."
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told 1News any decisions around mandates sit with police, who say for now they're supporting initiatives like Safer Plates and recommend the use of tamper-proof screws.
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