Published: 09/09/2010 15:36 - Updated: 09/09/2010 15:41

A Bletchley man has been charged with handling stolen goods and theft of fuel.

 

Ben Lewis, 21, from Chestnut Crescent was charged on September 7 with one count of handling stolen goods and one count of bilking (stealing fuel).

 

He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

 

The charges are in connection with the theft of front and rear number plates from a vehicle in Hainault Avenue, Giffard Park, in the early hours of September 4.

 

The stolen plates were then used at the BP service station, Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, to steal fuel.

 

PC Barry Jones said: "This is the fourth person we have charged in connection with number plate thefts and a subsequent bilking in the last few weeks. In the last five months in Milton Keynes we have seen nearly 500 bilking offences committed and over 200 number plate thefts.

 

"This may seem like a fairly low-level offence but each number plate theft has a victim behind it who then has the expense and hassle of possible insurance claims and getting a replacement set of plates. It also costs businesses thousands and takes up valuable police time.

 

"I hope that the recent number of people we have charged with the offence shows that we are taking it seriously and will prosecute offenders where ever we can."