Pa. state police warns of phony e-mail involving gas thefts

MERCER, Pa.— An e-mail circulating throughout the state of Pennsylvania warning residents that license plates are being stolen and used to steal gasoline is a hoax, state police said.

The E-mail, said to have been sent out by the department, claims if a license plate is missing, it could mean someone is using it on a different car involved in gasoline thefts. It also claims that the owner of the stolen plate could be held responsible.

The police department said it didn’t send out the E-mail and the information is false. Anyone who receives it should simply discard it.