The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station is warning residents that a suspect has taken a license plate from an unsuspecting victim’s vehicle and placed it on a reported stolen vehicle, then put the stolen plate in its place.
The victim’s car was a similar make and model to the stolen car. This allowed the thief to drive a stolen vehicle without being stopped by police, resulting in the law-abiding citizen being stopped for stolen vehicle investigations.
When someone is stopped by deputies under the suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle, all of the passengers in the alleged stolen vehicle are detained as part of the investigation.
There has only been one case of license plate swapping reported so far, and eight reported stolen plates since January.
The Sheriff’s Station is asking the public to check their vehicle’s license plates on a routine basis to ensure the plates have not been stolen or swapped for a different plate. If a driver finds a stolen license plate on their vehicle, they should report it to their local police agency prior to driving the vehicle. The station’s phone number is (818) 248-3464. For emergencies, dial 911.
First published in the June 29 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
