The “To Keep Up” Wiki

On 7/18/2025 we parked in a town parking lot, in the back and in the shade. When we returned to the car, the rear license plate had been stolen, and as it turns out it's easy for a thief to remove the plate.  I decided to create this page to help you prevent this from happening to you.

The theft was an annoyance.
We had to file a police report (very important), spend a half day at the Registry of Motor Vehicles cancelling our old/stolen plates and paying $60 for the new registration and plates.  Note: you definitely must get new plates, you can't use your old plate numbers as they're considered “stolen”.
You also cannot drive that car until you get the new plates for it (not a big deal if you have two cars, but if you don't…)

License plate theft is a growing concern, and it often happens faster than you'd expect. A thief with just a pair of pliers or a wrench can easily unscrew standard license plate bolts—especially the common hex-style ones. It is a surprisingly common crime that can leave vehicle owners facing significant headaches. Thieves target license plates for various reasons, including using them to disguise stolen vehicles, avoid traffic cameras, commit crimes, avoid tolls, or rack up traffic violations, leaving the car owner to deal with the consequences.

Most license plates are secured with standard hex bolts that can be easily removed with basic tools. A thief armed with nothing more than a pair of pliers can quickly unscrew these bolts and walk away with your plates in a matter of seconds. The process is silent, fast, and often goes unnoticed until the vehicle owner discovers the theft.

These are two types of screws often used to affix license plates to cars.  They may not have the screwdriver slot.

These are fast to remove if a thief has a pliers or screwdriver.

This type of opportunistic crime typically occurs in parking lots, on residential streets, or anywhere vehicles are left unattended for extended periods. The simplicity of the theft makes it attractive to criminals looking for a quick way to obtain license plates.

To protect yourself, consider replacing your regular screws with anti-theft license plate screws. These require specialized tools to remove, which thieves are unlikely to carry, making it much harder for a thief to walk off with your plate. For added protection, use screw caps to cover the heads of the screws. This not only helps prevent tampering but also gives your car a cleaner, finished look. (Most kits come with the caps.)

Another option is one-way screws that can be installed but are not easily removed.  The downside for these is they are hard to remove when you have a legitimate reason to remove the plate (maybe you're selling your car).

Example of screws requiring a special tool to remove (and that tool is included in the kit you purchase):

The picture on the left is from Amazon's set currently costing $6.99.  The one of the right is from another product, I've included it to show the closeup of the screw head.
Note that there are many options, some less expensive and many more expensive.
Most kits include the screws and cap that goes over them, making them more difficult to remove.

The 2nd picture above shows that these screws will not work with a standard hex wrench as there is a post in the middle preventing a standard hex wrench from seating.

Beyond preventing theft, anti-theft license plate screws can save you from the significant inconvenience and costs associated with stolen plates. Victims of license plate theft must file police reports, obtain replacement plates from the RMV or DMV, and may face complications if their stolen plates are used in criminal activities.

Advice: if your plate is stolen, file a police report immediately.  This protects you from being accused of a crime if the stolen plate is used by a criminal.

Anti-theft license plate screws are inexpensive and can be installed quickly with basic tools. They're available at most auto parts stores, online retailers, and some RMV/DMV offices. The small investment in these specialized fasteners can provide substantial peace of mind and protection against an increasingly common form of theft.

If you're using Amazon, search for anti theft license plate screw kit.  Searching now I see kits for $7.19, $5.99, and $6.99 with fast delivery (overnight, tomorrow, or two day).

Taking this simple preventive measure is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim of license plate theft, saving you time, money, and a lot of hassle.