There's a different kind of pirate radio situation unfolding in Corner Brook.

Someone is stealing the licence plates of amateur radio operators right off their vehicles.

"It's sort of uneasy because it's something we enjoy doing," said Kody Gardner, who lost his plate over the weekend.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, amateur radio operators can get licence plates starting with "VO1," followed by a call sign. In Gardner's case, it's his initials: "KJG."

The plates identify the owner as being an amateur operator, and sometimes that they have communications equipment inside the vehicle.

But the ease of identifying those unique plates could also make them targets.

"There's a lot of plate collectors in Newfoundland and Labrador, and these plates are fairly rare. You don't come across them very often," said Gardner.

"So maybe to someone, it might be worth a bit of money if they sell it online or something. So that's the only thing I can think of. I don't think anyone has something against us ham radio operators or something."

There are a number of Newfoundland and Labrador licence plates for sale on the online auction site eBay, where at least one amateur radio plate is listed.

In Gardner's case, he noticed the plate missing on Saturday night, after studying at Grenfell campus.

But he says he wasn't the only one targeted.

"Soon after another ham radio guy, Gerry, gave me a call and said, well, his plate was taken right out of his driveway that same night," he said.

Media Story - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ham-radio-licence-plate-pirates-1.5006169