The mobile police station will be visiting shopping centres all over the northern police area over the coming days so that people can have tamper proof number plate screws fitted to their vehicles free of charge.

Northamptonshire Police says the campaign, which started earlier this month, has already seen more than 100 cars fitted with the screws. Many other people took the screws away to fit them at a later date.

There have been 129 reports of stolen number plates in Northamptonshire North since January 1 – a 98 per cent rise on the same time last year when 65 thefts were reported.

And police – who will also be giving out crime prevention advice – believe that stolen number plates are often used to mask the identity of cars that are used in drive-offs from petrol stations.

Shoppers will be able to have the screws fitted free of charge while they wait or as they are doing their shopping.

The next location on the tour is Morrisons in Wellingborough on Thursday 24 July followed by Asda in Corby on Friday 25 July. After that the mobile police station will move on to Tesco in Wellingborough on Thursday 31 July, finishing up in Rushden on Friday 1 August. All of the events are running between 12pm and 6pm.

Inspector Ali Reynolds of the Northamptonshire North Police Area said: "There has already been a good response to the scheme and I would urge others to come along and make their vehicles even safer."

Anyone with information about the theft of number plates or petrol station drive offs should call Northamptonshire Police on 08453 700700 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.