License plate got stolen...

[Dionysusigma]

When I walked out to my car this evening, I was unpleasantly surprised by the fact that my car's license plate was stolen. Again. In fact, I had just received my new registration in the mail not a week ago, and this goes and happens again.

Needless to say, I am becoming really pi$$ed off. I'm to the point of pulling a sort of Trojan-horse deal, and waiting in the trunk with either my Mossberg 590 or my AK for the bastards to show up again. I hate being "victimized," but even more I hate spending another $15 on a new license plate, money I simply do not have. :banghead:

A while back, I was talking with my neighbor about some gang tags that had popped up around our apartment building, which he attributed to a local gang dubbed "The South Side Locos." Mainly a bunch of Mexican hoodlums which he had some prior experience with, but never affiliated himself with. I dunno if they're behind this as well, but it wouldn't surprise me.

How well does Bond-O work as far as attaching license plates to bumpers goes? Any other, maybe better ways so that it simply WILL NOT COME OFF?????

I'm miffed. I want blood. But seeing as how that's going to get me in more trouble than the perps should be, what else can I do?

:banghead:

 

[41mag]

Had that happen once.What a PITA!
Your frustration is felt!
Bondo=filler.Weatherstrip adhesive(gorilla snot)is VERY GOOD at sticking things together w/out them coming apart again.
Ifin a fella had a good memory & wanted to leave a suprise for some would be thieves then,mebee,some straight razor blades around the edge of the plate might have the desired effect.Ifin a fella had a good memory that is & wasn't too concerned about smashed windows or sliced tires.

Or maybe you could park w/the rear end up against a wall or something....

good luck!

 

[rem]

Try using phillips head screws then fill the heads in with JB Weld after you screw the plate on.

 

[Kharn]

How about some Red Loctite (#271) applied to the nuts and bolts holding the plate on? (dont use plastic brackets or whatever comes from the factory, spend like $2 at the hardware store for some metal nuts and bolts)

They'd need a blow torch to heat up the parts to allow disassembly.

Kharn

 

[Josey]

IGNORE the razor blade idea. You will regret following that advice. VERY bad idea. There is really no way to secure a cheap stamped aluminum license plate to your vehicle. One possibility is checking into a set of tamper resistant square drive RV screws. They require a square screwdriver. A heavy license frame might help. If a BG wants the license plate, they will get it.

 

[Firethorn]

Ditto ignoring the razorblade idea. Very Very bad idea

My car's plates are secured with bolts instead of screws. You could try a combination of lock-tite and square drive screws or bolts, so that they have to have more than a screwdriver. You don't want to piss them off, just make them look for a better target. Your insurance deductable is no doubt more than $15.

Oh, and report the plates stolen...

 

[carpettbaggerr]

If you have metal bumpers, you could fire up the MIG welder. Otherwise, pop-rivets might be the way to go.

 

[Roadkill Coyote]

You can get a set of tamper resistant bolts at most parts stores. They require a Torx driver with the hole in the center. They worked for me. Alternatively, you can just use regular bolts and round the points on the heads with a grinder. Of course you'll end up having to grind the heads off to take off the plate. I've also seen that done with some sucess as well.

Putting aside the obvious liability arguments about the use of razor blades, do you really want to do that, when the person that finds them might be the neighbors kids? What if it works? it probably won't incapacitate the culprit, so your going end up replacing your windsheild instead of your plate.

 

[Dionysusigma]

*sigh* Nah... razor blades are out of the question. If affording a new license plate isn't easy for me, then buying a new set of tires and glass is right out. Thanks, though.

Welding is too, as I have no experience in that area. FWIW, my car's a '95 Crown Victoria.

Man, that first post is so terribly written (from a grammar and mechanics viewpoint). I've calmed down a bit since then... the anger is mostly gone, but the paranoia remains. I've got an odd feeling about this whole thing... my car was the only one to have this happen to it, either time.

The only people that know where I live are my parents (no way they'd do this), my brother (who lives in NY), and one of my friends (too lazy to actually do something like this, although certainly not below his morals--but we're on great terms). I get along fine with all my neighbors, and don't play my music, TV, or computer loud at all.

Another wierd occurance... about 9am this morning I *think* a firecracker/bottle rocket went off near my place. I can't recall exactly the time or place as I was fast asleep and the thing woke me up halfway. Might be unrelated, but still...

I'm going to look into industrial-strength adhesives after I get a new plate. Using Phillips-head screws and filling them in afterwards sounds good too. Gonna notify the police after the new plate's on, as it's about 3:00 A. M. at present.

*sigh* Good thing I've got tomorrow off...

 

[41mag]

FWIW I recommended two other options besides the razors.
I was commiserating w/Dionysusigmas' anger & frustration.I figured that I would lose at least a half days pay & spend most of that day @ the DMV replacing the plate.I also figured that anyone who would be willing to steal a plate would also be willing to,if stopped by a permanently attatched plate,key the car @ the very least.Put yourself into the mind of the theif for a moment.You want to steal THIS plate & now cannot.ANGER,FRUSTRATION.Where does it go?Scratch the car,slash the tires,break the glass.It all sounds very likely to me.A theif whose target is liscence plates doesn't strike me as the brightest bulb in the box,eh?

As to the consequences of the theif possibly cutting his fingers?Well,@ the minimum I'd expect something along the same line as I posted above.Damage to the car.Could the miscreant(s)sue?Could they take an extreme approach to revenge?Sure they could.If he is already been targeted by goblins then what?Does anyone think that the problem will go away with just a couple of screws?I mean Dionysusigma has indicated that it is at least a minimally painful financial problem &,more seriously,a personal safety issue.Who is going to help?If he doesn't want to accept the possible consequences of potentially hurting the goblin then fine,don't do anything that will hurt them.


Around 5 o'clock this morning the thought occured to me that maybe the safest all aroud thing for you to do right now would be to get used to taking your plate off when you park the car for a while.


BTW,the rivet idea is a most excellent choice.Unlike glue,they will come apart when you need to remove the plate but usually require more tools than are likely to be carried in a pocket.

 

[SRYnidan]

I think that from both a security and retribution free stand point the loctite idea has the most merit. Assuming that the mount is sturdy it makes it tougher to get off with out making it obvious that that is what you have done (they may think you just over tighten the bolts or that they are rusted.

 

[Blue Line]

maybe a couple extra bolts or screws thru the middle area of the plate just becusse. Also that sticker that's on the plate - make sure that you make a cross on it with a knife or something so BG can't peel the tag sticker off with out damage to use on his car.

 

[Firethorn]

Blue Line,

At least for my state the stickers on my plates are already serrated and done so that they can't be removed intact. And some states have rules about plate modification/defacement.

I like the locktite idea, make it so that they go elsewhere for more easy pickings, without making it obvious so they take it out on your car.

 

[Blue Line]

I can asure you that making an X over the sticker is niether defacement or modification this will not cause the sticker to be unreadable only non removeable intact.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

'Course they could cut around the sticker with tin-snips. Guy I know found a neat little rectangular hole in his plate.

 

[Blue Line]

they could or they could just steal everything behind the tag up to the front bumper

 

[Dionysusigma]

Or not...

I've got the thing parked up against the building, with the license plate about 2" away from the wall. It's now also on the same side of the building as my door, in case I can see someone messing with it. Sticker's no biggie... already cross-hatched.

Thanks all for the suggestions and for tolerating my early rant

 

[Jim March]

JB-Weld in the screw heads AND around back on the threads (if they're accessible) is the answer.

 

[Blue Line]

well its that nickel and dime stuff that gets your goat sometimes!

 

[halvey]

I used to have one of those plastic covers secured with phillips screws. It was enough to deter stealing of my plate a time or two. If they really want it I suppose they'll get it though.

 

[tcsd1236]

Its a lousy license plate. Yeah, an aggravation, but certainly not worth staking out your car over. Make sutre you get it reported stolen and get a new one.