If your possessions were stolen, what are the chances that if found they could be identified and returned to you?
The British Security Industry Association is advising home-owners and businesses that if they mark their property and register marked items to a secure database, there is more chance that items can be returned successfully following theft and that the culprit can be connected to their crime.
Mike Hinchliffe, BSIA Cash and Property Section Chairman, says: "Police recovery centres hold a vast amount of recovered stolen items which cannot be returned to their rightful owners. The Police are often also faced with a situation whereby they are forced to return stolen property to a suspect because there is no way of identifying that it is definitely stolen."
"Property marking can assist the police in solving both of these issues. Property marking systems involve the permanent marking of items through overt or covert security marking, creating a powerful deterrent to thieves. Stolen goods are rendered useless by enabling the police to effectively link criminals to crimes by easily identifying items as being stolen. Use of such systems also reduces the chances of criminals gaining from stolen items as marking means they are less likely to be passed on."
Approved
Approved forms of security marking include: stencil etching, forensic coding, microscopic dots, electronic transponders and security labels. Details of BSIA members that can supply property marking systems can be found at www.bsia.co.uk/propertymarking
