A spate of license plate thefts has hit Griffith, prompting drivers to buy specialised anti-theft screws

Gary Delpiano was hit by one on the weekend, losing his plates at some point on Friday or Saturday night. He said he found out when a friend came by to pick him up and asked him where his plates went.

"He asked me what happened to my plates, I said nothing so we backed out and they were gone ... I'm a smoker so I sit out on my porch a lot before bed, so it must have happened in the early hours of the morning."

Mr Delpiano said that he was fortunate in that he wasn't hugely affected as he could drive a second car, but that he felt for others who might be less lucky.

"I have two cars and they only got one so I was okay. The worst part is that you imagine someone who only has one car. It takes you two or three days to sort it out and you're not able to drive anywhere. I'll have to pay a fee for the new ones as well."

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Mr Delpiano was charged $49 in total for new plates, but others have been set back by more.

Maureen Pennisi also had her plates over the weekend, setting her back a cool $115 for new ones. She described the theft as 'pretty scabby.'

"They must think it's a joke, but it's not funny ... the police gave me a permit to drive until I could get new ones on Monday, but it's the money side of things. It's terrible."

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