Dead Giveaway

We take a break from the busy-ness and stress of Thanksgiving week to admire the handiwork of thieves:

Two people were arrested early Friday morning for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle outfitted with a handwritten license plate, Benicia police said...

A check of the Kia’s vehicle identification number indicated the car had been reported stolen out of Alameda County, according to Benicia Police Lt. Kenneth Hart.

The driver, identified as 38-year-old Angel Rachiene Bolton from San Jose, was arrested for allegedly possessing the stolen vehicle and for allegedly possessing a narcotics pipe located inside the car, Hart said.

The passenger, a 30-year-old man from Alameda whom police did not immediately identify, was also allegedly in possession of a narcotics pipe and was booked for possessing a controlled substance. Hart added that the passenger had three out-of-county warrants out for his arrest.

I wonder what gave the police a hint that something was amiss. It could have been the hand-drawn alphanumeric characters or the lack of colors on the "plate" and the month and year "stickers." For me it would have been the duct tape, the dead giveaway that something is not professionally done.