Traffic authorities say it is too easy to obtain false number plates and want stricter rules to regulate buying plates.
Cape Town Traffic Services spokeswoman Merle Lourens said the cloning and theft of number plates was common, although the theft of licence discs was rare.
Athlone resident Jade Prince was recently woken by his car alarm to discover his Toyota’s registration plates and licence disc had been stolen. Prince said his neighbour saw a man fleeing over a wall.
DUPLICATE PLATES
Traffic authorities said criminals often wanted number plates from vehicles of the same make and model to vehicles they would use for crimes, such as traffic offences as well as hijackings and robberies.
Traffic’s operations manager, Michael Prag, said many drivers had duplicate plates, no plates or ones not on the Electronic National Administration Traffic Information System. - Cape Argus