Drivers have been warned over fake numbers being stuck to cars in residential streets.
A woman who found a licence plate placed on top of her own has expressed fears over thieves targeting her car.
Charlotte Grundy noticed the number plate on her car parked outside her home was a different colour and was covered in a film.
After taking a closer look, she realised the plate didn't belong to her - and now fears a thief was plotting to steal her car.
Charlotte told Manchester Evening News : "Everyone is saying it was being prepped to be stolen."
She thinks a thief may have been planning to break into her flat in Greater Manchester to steal her car keys - but that they got "disturbed" before doing so.
"We just don't know, it's quite scary," she said.
Charlotte said the fake plate isn't registered with the DVLA - so it wouldn't come up on any ANPR cameras.
People online, in the Hale and Altrincham General Facebook group, believe that the film on the number plate is designed to be reflective so the cameras can't pick it up.
In 2019, Charlotte's car was stolen while she was on holiday. Someone broke into her house, stole her key, and stole the car.
She said other crimes have been committed in the area recently - including an armed robbery in broad daylight.
"It's supposed to be a nice area," she said.
It comes after a man was left baffled after spotting two Mercedes-Benz cars parked along his street with matching number plates.
The mystery was deepened further by the fact both cars are silver and appear to be the same model, although pictures show one of the vehicles has a dent in the rear bumper.
A quick search on the DVLA vehicle checker shows that the number plate is registered to a silver Mercedes and it is taxed until February 2023, with an MOT due in the same period.
John Gargett, a lifelong resident who has become a crime-fighting crusader on the troubled estate, first spotted the two vehicles, reports YorkshireLive.
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