Anexkahn

generally people steal plates to wash the stickers off and re-apply valid stickers to expired vehicles. they generally dont steal plates for use in the commision of crimes.. thats what stolen cars are for. Reporting it is definitely something you should have done. As for driving without them, you'll probably get stopped but i don't know of a single cop who would actually cite someone for that, especially if you reported it.

Call the office back where you reported them stolen, give them your name and ask for the case number. It shouldnt take any longer than an hour or two before a case number should have been pulled and with that it lends credibility to your story.

Also make sure you have the registration to the vehicle handy so that you can quickly show the cop that it is indeed a case of missing plates instead of someone stealing the vehicle and tossing the hot plates.

I don't see how this in any way punishes the victim. As a vehicle owner, i'd be downright pissed if i thought someone could steal my car and then simply pull the plates off and be able to run around unsuspected of anything.