Local police and SES volunteers will combine in an effort to reduce vehicle registration plate theft on Thursday.
Drivers can take their vehicles to Bunnings in Warragul from 9am to 3pm to have anti-theft screws installed.
It follows an 86.7 per cent spike in theft from vehicles in Baw Baw in the past 12 months. Police said a large portion of the thefts were targeting registration plates.
Police said stolen registration plates were expensive to replace and could be used by criminals to commit other crimes such as petrol thefts, drug trafficking and burglary.
Anti-theft screws are fitted with a standard screwdriver but can only be removed by a special tool, making them harder to steal or be used illegally.