The Thames Community Patrol is holding a fundraising event aimed at preventing people from becoming victims of licence plate theft.
The “Safer Plates” event, taking place on October 12, will see patrol members replacing regular licence plate screws with specialty screws, which require a special tool to remove.
“An ordinary screwdriver or battery screwdriver won’t unscrew it. It won’t guarantee that they don’t get stolen but it’s a deterrent,” patrol member Dianne Leather said.
“Stolen number plates is big – [thieves] use them to put them on cars and swap them around so it makes it a lot harder to track them down.”
Anyone with a vehicle can get their screws replaced, Dianne said, and for only $10, it will provide peace of mind – while also offering financial support to the patrol.
The licence plate event is a first for the Thames patrol.
Dianne said the money raised will go towards running costs for the patrol, including petrol. They will also be holding regular sausage sizzles outside Pak n Save as summer approaches.
“We have to raise our own funds. And that’s the hardest thing.”
The Thames Community Patrol is made up of around 14 members, who spend several nights a week driving around business and residential areas between Tararu and Kōpū.
In their official car and armed with a police radio, they act as an extra set of eyes and ears for local officers.
“We want to do something for the community, and help keep it safe. [But] we’re not police so you stay safe in your car and just report anything back to the police to follow up.”
Dianne said the patrol was always looking for new members.
It was a minimal time commitment, she said, with members only needing to take on one or two shifts a month. Shifts are around 3-4 hours, and times vary but there are usually around three patrols a week.
DETAILS: Safer Plates, October 12, 10am-2pm, Goldfields Mall carpark. $10 per vehicle. Anyone interested in joining the Thames Community Patrol, contact Graeme Wood 027 417 8224 or Dianne Leather 027 234 5845.
