More than 100 motorists took steps to secure their number plates against thieves at an anti-theft bolt event yesterday.

Neighbourhood Support joined forces with Bunnings and community patrol volunteers for the event, held at the Bunnings carpark, with volunteers fitting security bolts to vehicle number plates to make them harder to remove.

Jane Fox from Whakatāne Neighbourhood Support said they fitted 115 cars with bolts yesterday, 50 of those in the first hour.

Although not impossible to remove, the bolts are designed differently from standard screws and require the right tool to undo.

The added difficulty can be enough to deter would-be thieves.

Community Constable Rob Jones said anything people could do to prevent crime was worthwhile – “the prevention screws, alarms, anything to prevent your property or your vehicle being targeted or make it an easy target”.

Jones said plates could be stolen by people wanting to use them on vehicles involved in illegal activity, making it harder to identify the vehicle through cameras or other means.

He encourages anyone whose number plates have been stolen to report it to police so they can be flagged as stolen.

Jones said the event was also a good opportunity for police to engage with the community.

Bunnings activities' organiser Meagen Devonshire said the event was part of the store’s national Crime Week, which focused on safety and crime prevention.

The store is also running a safety-themed colouring-in competition and a treasure hunt.

Staff provided a free sausage sizzle for those attending the number plate event, helping bring the community together while volunteers carried out the work.

Community patrol volunteers fitted the security bolts and collected donations to help cover petrol costs for their patrols.

The group is always looking for new volunteers to join its night patrols and help keep the community safe.