If you’ve ever had your car broken into, you know the feeling of violation and helplessness that comes with it. Unfortunately, another crime related to car theft is becoming more and more common: number plate cloning. It’s a surprisingly easy crime for criminals to get away with and can cause severe headaches for the innocent car owner. So, what should you do if your number plate has been cloned?
What Is Number Plate Cloning?
Number plate cloning is a crime that has been around for years, and it is only becoming more common and dangerous as technology advances. A cloned number plate incident is when a criminal duplicates a registration number to use on another car to commit crimes without them being traced back to them.
How To Know If Your Number Plate Has Been Cloned?
Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to know if your number plate has been cloned. However, if you have received letters about fines and offences, then it is likely that you may be a victim of a cloned number plate crime.
What To Do If Your Number Plate Has Been Cloned?
If your number plate has been cloned, taking action as soon as possible is essential. The first step is to contact the police and report the incident. The authorities can investigate and take the necessary steps to stop illegal activities linked to your vehicle’s number plate.
If the criminals have committed offences with your registration number, which has resulted in fines and points, you must contact the DVLA. They will be able to advise you on what to do in this situation and speak with the relevant authorities to address the issue.
In both situations, you should be prepared to provide evidence of your location at the time of the crime with your smartphone or any other device with a GPS tracking feature. Finally, it is recommended that you take the relevant precautions and find a new number plate to transfer to your vehicle. This will disassociate you from any criminal activity that may be committed in the near future.
Number plate cloning can be much more than a simple nuisance; it can lead to very serious problems for all involved. Taking the protective measures laid out above is the best way to try and avoid being affected by this crime to a more significant degree.
