A spate of unsolved crimes linked to number plates stolen in Bushey has led the village’s police team to fit dozens of plates for free.

Vehicles in 13 streets were targeted by thieves in the space of two months.

Of those, 28 per cent of the registration numbers have been used to steal petrol, and this year, a third of all number plate thefts in Hertsmere have taken place in Bushey.

Last Thursday staff from Halfords and the Bushey Neighbourhood Police Team fixed number plates in Costco and The Rutts car park in Bushey Heath. About 130 plates were fixed in the village during the exercise, which police hope will prevent further thefts in the coming months.

PCSO Paul Purvis said the event was a “fantastic success” and had helped 252 potential victims of crime.

He added: “It has been suggested that offenders are stealing these number plates to evade automatic number plate recognition and speed cameras, as well as the plates being used to commit other offences such as theft of fuel and robberies.

“The sporadic nature of the offences is shown by the fact some offences occurred during the day and some during the night. It is interesting to note that, of the 23 offences which occurred in the street, there was only one repeat street so this makes it very difficult to catch offenders.”

The offences took place in Cotswold Avenue, Bushey Mill Lane, Heathbourne Road, Bournehall Avenue, Tylers Way, St Peters Close, Bennets Field, Siskin Close, High Street, Broadfield Court, Hartspring Lane, High Road and Ford Close.