Police warn car owners to blur number plates online
Victoria Police are urging motorists to be careful about posting their vehicle’s registration plates online, amid a wave of cloning events.
The rise in social media and ease of access to technology has culminated in a rise in cloned – or outright stolen – number plates, prompting Victoria Police to issue a warning to motorists.
VicPol’s Frankston Crime Investigation Unit’s Targeted Enforcement Crew has since the end of March 2026 seized almost 32 pairs of cloned registration plates from homes in Baxter, Carrum Downs, Dandenong, Frankston, Frankston North, Langwarrin and Lynbrook.
These plates are recreated by unscrupulous people who match the appearance of the real plate they’re copying, affixing them to either a near-identical car, or one that’s completely unrelated.
This leads to vehicles with cloned plates being used for criminal activities, leading to an increased burden for those who are the victims of the cloning.
To help combat the increase in the prevalence of cloned plates, Frankston Investigation and Response Inspector Melissa Nixon said motorists should be vigilant when showing off their cars online, or even taking in-person measures to reduce the impact.
“Having your numberplates cloned is not only an inconvenience, but it can also be costly to have them replaced,” Inspector Nixon said.
“However, there are a few simple measures owners can take to lessen their chances of falling victim.
“We strongly advise anyone who is trying to sell a car or posting images of their car online to blur the numberplate, to avoid falling victim to anyone scanning social media for registration plates to clone.
“You can also install anti-theft screws which make it very hard for thieves to steal your plates quickly and without damaging them. These are free at police stations or available for a small price at hardware stores.
Jordan Mulach
“The success of the team in such a short period of time has already made a large dent in alleged syndicates across the southeast, and we will continue working around the clock to disrupt organised criminal activity.”
In addition to the cloned number plates, the TEC has also recovered and returned 25 stolen vehicles to their owners.
Claimed to be worth approximately $1 million combined, it included a Toyota LandCruiser (said to have a value of $200,000 alone), as well as an Audi A5, Nissan Patrol and two Toyota Hiluxes, all worth about $70,000 each.
Last year, data from the Crime Statistics Agency showed more than 33,000 vehicles were stolen between October 2024 and September 2025 in Victoria.
