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Police in North Somerset have launched a trial number plate amnesty in a bid to recover numerous missing registration plates.

In 2005 more than 50 plates were taken from vehicles and already this year more than 100 were taken between April and October from unattended or parked vehicles.

Police believe in most cases the number plates have been taken purely as part of a prank.

However it is also possible that they have been used to mask real plates for crimes such as taking petrol from filling stations without paying, where an automatic number plate recognition system operates.

Inspector Yannis Georgiou said: "Whether the plates are collected for fun or part of a seemingly innocuous prank, or for more sinister reasons, it has become an increasing burden on victims, who face the cost of replacing the missing number plates.

"And this type of crime also causes a real nuisance and anxiety for those who have had number plates taken from their vehicles," said Insp Georgiou.

In December of last year, Weston-super-Mare police recovered more than 20 registration plates from the Bleadon Hill area on the outskirts of the town. It is believed that the 27 plates – taken from vehicles in the WsM, Kewstoke and Milton areas – were taken as part of a series of late night pranks. Licence plates belonging to taxis were among the hoard recovered.

Police in North Somerset are now offering an amnesty to those who have collected number plates. This year between April and October a total of 102 plates have been reported stolen.

As with the recent successful knife amnesty the police will be putting special collection bins at police stations throughout North Somerset (Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead) for people to deposit stolen number plates.

"Those depositing the number plates can do so anonymously – no questions will be asked. We are keen to re-unite the victims with their missing plates," said Insp Georgiou.

"We would also appeal to anyone with information about stolen number plates to contact Weston-super-Mare CID on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.