Your Property

Your belongings may be important to you but to a thief they are just a way of making easy cash.

Marking your possessions makes them less attractive to burglars because they are hard to sell on and too hot to handle.

Every year we recover property worth thousands of pounds but are unable to return it to its rightful owner because it can’t be properly identified.

Protecting your home against thieves is vital but marking your belongings, especially those with sentimental value, could deter thieves or help us prove they were stolen.
 
How can I mark my property?

There are several ways to mark your belongings and you can buy easy to use kits for each method from DIY stores.

Engraving or etching: Use an electric engraving tool to leave a permanent mark on most hard surfaces.

Ultraviolet marking: Use an ultraviolet pen to leave a mark which only becomes visible under a UV lamp. The mark can fade over time so needs to be renewed regularly.

Ceramic marking: Use ceramic marking pens to leave a permanent mark on china and glass without cutting or scratching the surface.

Electronic marking: Modern televisions allow you to record your details electronically and prevent others accessing them with a security code.

What should I mark it with?

A simple way to identify your property is to mark it with your postcode followed by your house or flat number.

After doing so, take photographs of the items alongside a ruler or tape measure. This will help make any insurance claims you may need to make in the future easier.

For more information on property marking download the Home Office Coded for keeps leaflet.                  

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