The theft of vehicle registration stickers affixed to license plates is rising. This issue coincides with LAPD Olympic Police Station Captain Brian O’Connor’s statement on February 19 that theft crimes occur most frequently in LA’s Koreatown, highlighting the need for increased vigilance.
On February 20, Mr. Kim, an office worker in Koreatown, belatedly realized that the DMV (California Department of Motor Vehicles) registration sticker on the rear license plate of his car was missing. That morning, he had taken his car to an auto repair shop to replace the battery when a staff member inspecting the vehicle pointed out that the sticker was gone.
Upon closer inspection, Kim found that the yellow “2025” sticker, which he had placed in the upper right corner of the license plate, had disappeared, leaving only the blue “2024” sticker. “I had placed the 2025 sticker over the 2024 sticker,” Kim said. “If you look closely at the upper right corner of the plate, you can see traces where the sticker was removed.”
Sooncho Lee, CEO of Eden Auto Group, which also provides vehicle registration services, noted, “On average, about five people a day come in to get replacement stickers due to theft. These days, there are even cases where entire license plates are stolen, so some people have to get new plates as well.”
Koreatown is also a hotspot for “Theft from Motor Vehicle” (TFMV) crimes. According to crime analysis data from the Olympic Police Station, out of the 469 reported crimes between January 19 and February 15, TFMV incidents accounted for 132 cases (28.14%), making it the most common crime in the area.
Victims of vehicle registration sticker theft must obtain a replacement sticker. Without a valid registration sticker on the license plate, they may be issued a ticket or face penalties. Lee explained, “Parking enforcement officers from the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) issue tickets to vehicles without registration stickers. Occasionally, police officers also stop cars for missing stickers.”
New registration stickers can be obtained from the DMV or vehicle registration service providers.
Pastor Bochun Suh, who has been a driving instructor in the LA area for over 20 years, stated, “If you report the theft of your sticker to the DMV, they will issue a replacement for $27.” However, he added, “Many people opt to visit registration service providers instead, as wait times at the DMV can be long.”
Experts recommend making cuts on the registration sticker to prevent thieves from peeling it off intact. Pastor Suh emphasized, “There is no special preventive measure other than making cuts on the sticker.” Lee added, “These days, even stickers with cuts are being stolen, so making as many cuts as possible is the only effective deterrent.”
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
