On Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 9:18:52 AM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
On 3/26/2016 9:05 AM, philo wrote:
It can also be kids playing pranks (like swapping hubcaps).

This is not likely to be a kid's prank...there was some research involved.

You can't comment on likelihood. Unless the OP drives a really *unique*
vehicle, garages it in a secure facility, etc. that "research" can
simply involve carrying plate around until spotting another similar
vehicle in another accessible location.

[Computer hacking started out as a kid's prank -- long before it
became a profitable industry!]

Involving more than a pair of vehicles in the transaction just increases
the chance of it being detected BEFORE it can "bear fruit". Presumably,
until ALL of the plates have been placed, the real purpose can't be carried
out (why risk being caught putting a plate on a vehicle AFTER you've
performed the nefarious act?).

Might be a way to keep from paying license fees every year. Danger being that an owner will spot the change or get stopped, then the stolen plate winds up on the hot sheet.