The whole license plate would be useless here because the plate
is registered to a person(s) and his (their) vehicle.
If someone tried to use it on another vehicle, game over, dummie.
That is especially true if the owner reports the plate stolen.
Here, the plate is registered to the person, but can be transferred to another vehicle if it is duly recorded and registered.
If the rear plate is stolen, the person who has it is immediately arrested. No questions asked.
In CA, the vehicle is registered, and the plates stay on the car, no matter how many times it is sold.