Police Charge Man After Cloning Number Plates

Frankston police have charged a man over the alleged manufacture and distribution of cloned licence plates across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area.

Police will allege the false plates were copied from Victorian registration plates already in use, before the vehicles with the cloned plates were then involved in additional crimes across the local area, as well as in alleged burglaries in Cranbourne.

It’s believed the cloned plates were being made to order, after being copied from car sale advertisements online.

Following enquiries, the Frankston Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a home on Mahogany Avenue, Frankston North, just after 6.30am yesterday.

During a search of the home, police located and seized several false Victorian number plates and equipment used to manufacture false plates, including a laser cutting printer, adhesives, number plate templates and tin, as well as templates from sets of cloned plates that had allegedly previously been made.

Police also seized electronic devices from the property.

A 44-year-old Frankston North man was arrested and charged with negligently dealing with proceeds of crime, making false document, and possessing a drug of dependence.

He was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 19 March 2024.

Anyone with additional information that may help investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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