Security/Tamper Resistant Fasteners

Bruise Lee · Sep 8, 2005

I just got a new Acura RSX. Less than a month old, and I catch some punk unscrewing the license plate bolts! He had one off and one loose when I caught him. It was in a supermarket parking lot, and the guy bolted. Tons of guys here in Los Angeles with expired tags. Plus, with my stolen plates they can park in red zones, handicap zones, never pay the parking meter, and let city hall mail all the parking violations to me!

Anyway, I was thinking I better get some security / tamper resistant bolts to secure my license plate to my car. The only ones I know of are Torx tamper resistant screws - but I've only seen them in small sizes. The head of my bolt is 10mm to give you an idea, length should be about 1/2".

Any idea of what to buy and where to get it?

Bruise

mycroftt · Sep 8, 2005

Why not just use regular bolts fastened with red Loctite? You won't get them off without a heat gun.

skunked · Sep 8, 2005

You should be able to get them at a specialty fastener shop, look in the yellow pages, or you could try McMaster-Carr, they have dang near everything.

Frank · Sep 8, 2005

If you can't find something at McMaster Carr, try a commercial plumbing or electrical outlet. Ask for a center reject torx screw or a torx screw with a center reject pin.

maximus otter · Sep 9, 2005

If they're ordinary bolts with a hexagonal head, screw them in, then Dremel or file off the angles to leave a circular head. No purchase for a spanner. To remove them yourself, file in a slot & use a conventional screwdriver.

If they're conventional ("slot-head") screws, you can buy special "one-way" screws like the one below:

maximus otter

Temper · Sep 9, 2005

Or just get them welded on with a little TIG welder, when you need to change them just grind them off.

Mr.BadExample · Sep 9, 2005

I've seen license plate frames sold with special tools to remove the bolts. It's an allen wrench with a security nib, like the secure-torx screws.

BlackDPlus · Sep 9, 2005

Cool fasteners are high tech, but just about anything other than a regular screw would be better.

Guys stealing plates will come armed with a screwdriver or use a quarter or something. Anything thats different should move them on to another vehicle.

Plates are usually mounted to plastic threaded inserts. Even hex or torx screws laying around your garage would be a plus and can just be forced into the plastic.

Just an idea.
Alex