Sergeant Gary Thwaites, who heads up Palmyra’s Local Policing Team (LPT) 2, said criminals removed numberplates to allow them to disguise other vehicles before using them in crimes.
‘Quite often this involves petrol station drive- offs,’ he said.
Sgt Thwaites, who tweets regularly using the hashtag #NewSheriffInTown, and three of his constables set up outside Bunnings Myaree last Thursday installing anti-theft screws to vehicle numberplates free of charge.
A total of 26 cars were fitted with the crime-fighting screws.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWPolice also dealt with a customer who Sgt Thwaites said was aggressive and was suspected of shoplifting.
The team will be back at the store in December to offer the service again.
Details will be in the Melville Times and on LPT2’s twitter account @palmyrapol.