Property marking

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. This 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 getting it back, should the police 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 police forces across the county to identify the owner of lost and stolen goods.

UV pen marking

Use a UV pen, which is invisible to the naked eye, to 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 the police 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 your property can help you prove it is yours and can also help us to prosecute the criminal who stole it from you.

Permanent Marker Pen/Paint

This can be used on school/college equipment or clothing labels.

Postcode Stencil

Some products 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 and other portable electronic equipment.