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Here are some tips to help you protect your
property from thieves.
When purchasing a new appliance or lawn mower or
DVD player or anything with an operators manual, staple your
receipt to the instruction booklet and jot down the serial number of
the item in the back of the booklet. (The serial number can usually be
found on the back or underside of the item.)
Take a picture of your item, especially bikes,
dirt bikes and ATV's. There are many different types. It is hard to
tell some of them apart. The photo will show any distinguishing marks
such as stickers, markings and scrapes that are unique to your
property You have created a record of proof of ownership by doing
this.
How does this help if my
Property is stolen?
If your property is stolen call your local Law
Enforcement Agency and report it. By providing the make, model, serial
number and photo to the Police Officer; the Law Enforcement Agency can
then enter your item into the NCIC computer system. The NCIC computer
system lists all of the stolen items that are entered into it.
Should
a Police Officer locate your item; he can run the serial number
through the NCIC computer and it will notify him that the item is
stolen. You get your item back and the person who had your item when
the Police Officer contacted them is going to get arrested.
Pawn Shops are also require to provide a complete
list of items that they took in over the previous month. The items are
listed by make, model and serial number.
The Law Enforcement Agency
will cross-reference each Pawn Shop's list against their stolen
property records. If there is a match on both lists; the Law
Enforcement Agency can get your property back from the Pawn Shop and
find out who pawned the item. The person who pawned your property will
be contacted by the Police and face Criminal Prosecution.
For more information, see these sites:
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ASKACOP.org
