Inspection & registration stickers stolen out of vehicles - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A crime alert out of Hopewell where dozens of inspection stickers, registration stickers, and license plates have been stolen from parked vehicles.

Since June, 42 vehicles have been hit. Including several at Cavalier Square Shopping Center and the local hospital.

Shoppers at Cavalier Square, including Jessie Robertson, say they're not surprised.

"With the price of having stuff repaired it's like $60 per hour to have someone work on your car per hour," Robertson explained.

The crimes are happening throughout the city. Specifically, in large commercial parking lots during the day and in residential neighborhoods at night.

Hopewell Police say the crimes appear to be connected.

"We think it's a small group and they're active," said Lt. Damon Stoker.

Police suspect the crooks are selling the stolen items.

"The attraction is someone can't afford to get their vehicle fixed or afford to get it inspected. They can buy it from an unauthorized person on the street," said Stoker. 

To make it more difficult for someone to cleanly steal your inspection or registration stickers police say grab a pair of scissors or a razor and score the back of the stickers.

Doing so will cause the stickers to come apart if it's peeled off.

"There's one commonality to all of them they're all being taken out of unlocked vehicles," Stoker added.

If you have information on any of these crimes you're asked to call the Hopewell Police Department or Crime Solvers at 541-2202.

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