Michael Impey of Cranbourne Steel and Bolts has had an influx of orders for oneway screws in the wake of an increasing number of numberplate thefts in the Cranbourne area. A CRANBOURNE industrial company is driving car numberplate thieves nuts.
Business has boomed for Cranbourne Steel and Bolts since it began selling oneway screws to safeguard cars against registration plate theft.
Employee Joan Impey said an extraordinary amount of people had requested oneway screws in the past month, following an increase in the number of petrol driveoffs at local service stations.
She said rising fuel prices had led to a spate of numberplate thefts and claimed frustrated motorists were searching for a way to clamp down on thieves.
“The oneway screws are stainless steel and can be screwed in easily but can’t be screwed out.
“We are now servicing two car yards in the area who are using the screws on all their cars. They only used to put them on new cars but they said there had been a lot of numberplate thefts lately.
“We very rarely used to have inquiries about the screws. It’s only been in the last month that we have had regular people coming in asking what we’ve got that can’t be screwed out.
“So we ordered them in,” she said.
Ms Impey said the screws had proven extremely popular among local car companies and residents, with the business selling nearly 50 screws in one week.
“We sold a box of 100 to a car yard last week and I had 16 people on the waiting list at my arthritis group on the first day I put it up.
“The demand has been huge,” she said.
