Police dismantle number plate cloning operation

Victoria Police have arrested a man in relation to the alleged manufacture and distribution of cloned number plates across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.

Police claim the fraudulent plates – believed to have been made-to-order from vehicles for sale online – had been used in various crimes in areas of Melbourne's southeast.

A 44-year-old man has been charged after police allegedly discovered several forged Victorian number plates at his home, along with equipment including a laser cutting print, adhesives, number plate templates and tin, and a set of templates for number plates they allege have already been created.

The man, from Frankston North, faces charges of negligently dealing with proceeds of crime, making false document, and possessing a drug of dependence, and has been bailed to appear in court in March 2024.

In February 2023, motorists were warned to blur the number plates of cars being advertised for sale online, with criminals turning to 3D printers to create fake plates to be used in criminal activities – from stealing fuel to aggravated burglaries.

VIDEO: Melbourne driver attempts to dodge tolls with number plate cover

The legitimate owners of the number plates are then left to prove their innocence when police come knocking.

In the past, when criminals stole physical number plates off a car, owners could report the theft to police. However, with cloned plates, owners are often unaware their number plates have been copied.

Copying plates from online advertisements also means criminals don't have to deal with anti-tamper screws, and can't be caught in the act of sleuthing in neighbourhoods at night.

In late 2022, Victorian authorities began printing discreet holograms on official number plates in an effort to make cloning more difficult. Queensland number plates and federally-registered heavy-vehicle number plates have both used the holographic technology since 2020.