Crime & Safety
Vandals Steal, Damage License Plates on Crane
Residents also report items taken from vehicles parked on the street and in driveways.
Nearly a dozen residents on Crane in Royal Oak woke up this morning to find their vehicles' license plates had been stolen or damaged.
Some neighbors on the block west off Main Street also reported that their unlocked cars had been searched, though no one reported items taken. Others reported vandalism, such as antennas ripped off and wiper blades twisted.
Royal Oak Patch Editor Judy Davids and her son, whose Dodge Caravan and Ford Taurus were parked on Crane near , were among the victims.
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"The one nice thing to come out of the morning is that Royal Auto Sales is having someone come out this afternoon and fix my antenna and wiper blade," Davids said. "That was really nice of Mike, the store's manager. He went out of his way to help out a neighbor."
In total, four license plates were reported stolen and five license plates damaged.
How to replace your stolen license plate, tab
Stolen plates should be reported to local police or sheriff's office. The agency will enter a message into the Law Enforcement Information Network alerting officers the plate was reported as stolen, according to the Secretary of State. The law enforcement officer will also provide a case number and copy of the report so if you must drive the vehicle before the plate is replaced and you get pulled over you can show proof of the incident.
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A plate can only be replaced by the vehicle owner, by a member of the owner's family living at the same address or by a representative of the owner with an Appointment of Agent form completed by the vehicle owner, the Secretary of State website states.
Vehicle owners may obtain a replacement plate at a Secretary of State office for $5. Bring the vehicle registration or license plate number and owner's identification. You'll pay an additional fee if you personalize your replacement plate or if you purchase a different type of plate.
If only your tab was damaged, lost or stolen, a new tab and vehicle registration will be issued for $5. A replacement plate is not necessary.
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