Victoria Police just recovered over $1 million worth of stolen vehicles. The target? Cars sporting cloned number plates. The haul included a Toyota LandCruiser, a Nissan Patrol, and a Toyota HiLux.
Seventy-nine arrests have been made since March 2026. This isn’t random policing. It’s the result of the Frankston Crime Investigation Unit’s Targeted Enforcement Crew (TEC). They built this team to disrupt offending. Specifically, they want to stop thieves from flying under the radar. Officers now work alongside the Air Wing and Dog Squad. Why? To make hiding impossible.
This crackdown hits hard at a specific time. Vehicle theft in Victoria has hit a twenty-year high. The Insurance Council of Australia reports $243 million in motor vehicle insurance claims over the last year. That figure exceeds every other state combined.
The suspects aren’t just low-level petty criminals. One 32-year-old man from Carrum Downs is accused of manufacturing high-end clones. Another, a 38-year-old from Ivanhoe, allegedly made 875 sets. He faces Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on July 21. That’s nearly nine hundred forged plates.
So, how exactly do criminals clone number plates?
They produce copies of a legitimate vehicle’s registration. Then they fit these copies onto another car—often a stolen one. The goal is to conceal identity. It’s a disguise. Most clones match the make, model, and color of the real vehicle. This reduces the chance of attracting police attention.
But it’s not just about speed.
Cloned plates are tools for serious organized crime. Groups use them for aggravated burglaries. Fire-bombings. Drive-by shootings. Drug trafficking. Speeding tickets are just the tip of the iceberg.
“Having your number plates cloned is not only inconvenience, but it can also costly to have them replaced.”
The fallout hits innocent motorists. You might receive infringement notices for offenses you never committed. You might not even know your plates have been stolen until it’s too late.
Frankston Investigation and Response Inspector Melissa Nixon warns against posting clear photos of your car online. Blurring the number plate is a simple step. It stops scammers from scanning social media for easy targets.
Anti-theft screws are another defense. Thieves can’t rip your plates off quickly without damage. These are available at hardware stores for a small price. Police stations often give them out for free.
The success of this team is undeniable. They’ve made a large dent in alleged syndicates in the southeast. Will it end? Probably not. But the pressure is on. They are working around the clock. And until the plates stop coming, the radar stays lit.
