POLICE have warned motorists to guard their number plates with figures revealing more than 500 vehicle plates have been reported stolen in the ACT so far this year.

Last year 1310 number plates were stolen across Canberra, with many thieves using them to avoid police.

But motorists can guard their plates against being stolen by taking part in Project Safe Plate on Saturday (October 14), police say.

Between 9am and 3pm police officers will fit vehicle plates with tamper-proof screws at Marist College on Marr Street in Pearce. The service is free.

Car thieves are known to steal number plates and place them on stolen vehicles in an effort to avoid police detection.

The stolen plates are used to disguise the real identity of a vehicle when it is used in crimes such as petrol drive-offs and burglaries.

The officer-in-charge of Woden Police Station, Acting Inspector Mark Watson says: “This is a great opportunity to come down to Marist College and get your plates secured with free tamper-proof screws,” he said.

“We’ll have a drive-thru arrangement where you don’t even have to get out of your car – police and volunteers will fit them while you wait.”

In April, more than 450 cars were fitted with tamper proof screws during the Project Safe Plate event in Belconnen.

If mororists are not able to attend tomorrow’s event, free tamper-proof screws are available at any ACT police station.