23
Oct
2013
By Calvin at 12:56 GMT, 12 years ago
Recently Tameside Home Watch@TamesideHWatch tweeted the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWNjiNQkDI to a Greater Manchester Police 60 second video about property marking using a UV pen and registering property on the Immobilise database.
This is OK as far as it goes, because we should all be marking the property around our homes, not just to get it back if it’s stolen, but to be part of the evidence that will lead to an arrest and a successful prosecution.
Unfortunately 60 seconds is simply not long enough to sufficiently explain the downsides with using UV ink and the postcode. The problem with using UV ink is that it fades and needs reapplying or it simply wears off, no matter where you put it. UV ink is also not visible so how can this be a deterrent?
Even using the postcode to mark property, whilst helpful in some circumstances, is not the best thing to identify your property with. Things have moved on from this 1980s advice!
If you’re serious about marking your property, for a small cost you can purchase a proprietary system that is certificated to LPS 1225: Issue 3.1 Requirements for the LPCB Approvals and Listing of Asset Marking Systems; a standard which carries the approval and recommendation of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
Several of the companies that advertise on this website can provide you with marking kits for the home and several of them run their own secure databases, also approved by ACPO.
If you would like to find out more and the reasons why I felt driven to write a news story about this GMP video please visit this section of this website
You know it makes sense!
Property marking advice: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-inside-the-home/484/property-identification--marking-tagging-and-tracking/
