Protecting your valuables by making them less attractive to steal in the first place is the main aim of property marking.

If your property is marked it can be immediately established as stolen which makes it difficult to sell-on as it becomes “too hot to handle” because it presents a greater risk for potential purchasers if they are caught in possession of it.

If you have marked your property it also greatly increases the chance of you getting it back should we recover it.

Although etching or punching your postcode and house number or name or company name on property can be very effective, it is often not a practical option, so we would recommend the following ways of effective property marking:

Electronic marking
You can create a free private and secure portfolio of all your personal property at the Immobilise website. It only takes a few minutes online to register your property details and it enables the police forces across the United Kingdom to identify the owner of lost and stolen goods.

 

UV pen marking
Using a UV pen, which is invisible to the naked eye, you mark your postcode followed by the house number or name on your chosen property. You can deter potential thieves by using stickers, usually supplied with the pen, indicating that your property is marked.

The UV mark is only visible with special UV lights and we can use these when property is recovered. Remember that UV markings need to be re-applied from time to time as they fade with wear and tear.

 

Photography
Taking detailed photographs of property can help you to prove it is rightfully yours and can also help us to prosecute the criminal who stole it from you.

 

Permanent Marker Pen/Paint
This can be used on large pieces of machinery, tools and garden equipment.

 

Postcode Stencil
Some products on the market use a stencil of your post code which when applied with a paste etches the details onto your valuables. This is great for IT equipment, bikes and other large items and can also be used on satellite navigation systems and mobile phones along with other portable electronic equipment.

 

DNA Technology
There are many products on the market using DNA technology to mark your property. These products contain microdots with unique reference numbers which are linked to your house. These products can be detected using a UV light and then the information can be obtained from the microdots. Most police vehicles carry UV lights.

 

Inventories
All householders and businesses should have an inventory of their valuable items. This can either be a list or a photographic record or even a video of a room.

 

Advertise It!
However you choose to mark your property, you should always use the stickers usually provided with the product to advertise to would-be thieves that you have taken crime prevention measures.

You should also let your insurance company know of any measures you have taken as you may be eligible for a discount.

When looking for products look for ones which have been tested to substantiate the claims they make – look for Sold Secure and Secured by Design products.

For more information contact your local crime prevention officer either through your Safer Neighbourhood Team or directly on 101.

For more information log on to the Secured by Design or Sold Secure websites.