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Marking Your Property With Engraving
One of the easiest and effective
ways to protect your personal property is to mark it.
One way that property marking protects your items is that is deters
thieves from taking them in the first place. Items that are marked are
difficult to sell, as they obviously belong to someone else. Another way
that property marking works to protect your items is by making stolen
items easy for police to identify and return to you.
There are two main types of property marking: permanent marking and
invisible marking. With permanent marking you engrave or “punch” your
information, such as street number and zip code, into the item. Most
hardware stores carry inexpensive kits that can be used for permanent
marking.
When marking your items you should be sure to use a template to keep
your identification legible and a sharp tool or fine drill. Sharp
punches with numbers and letters are used for “punching” your items.
This method is great for a variety of items, including your law mower,
engine, bicycle, and other sturdy metal objects. You will want to avoid
“punching” items constructed from aluminum which damages easily. If you
are not picky about the look of your item you can simply scratch your
zip code into the side of the item with a sharp pointed object.
Invisible Marking
Permanent marking can spoil the appearance and value of some items, such
as antiques. In these cases it is best to use invisible marking, which
uses an ultra-violet (UV) marker which can be seen by police using an
ultra-violet light. You will want to place your zip code onto the item,
just as you would with permanent marking. You will need to reapply the
marker every so often, as UV markers tend to fade over time.
While you can purchase either a UV marker or ceramic marker at most
hardware stores, many police stations will actually let you borrow one
to help protect your valuables. Remember that you will need to regularly
reapply your markings, as cleaning chemicals can remove them and they
will fade with time.
While burglars will be unable to see your markings, you can get a
sticker for your home from most police stations that say “Property in
this home has been marked.” This should help deter burglars from taking
items from your home, as they know there is a greater likelihood of
getting caught. Your local police station can give you more information
about this program.
When choosing which items to mark you need to think about those things
which are most valuable and most attractive to thieves. When you really
think about it thieves will take just about anything, so it might be a
good idea to mark everything of value.
You should keep careful records of all the valuable items in your home,
including the tools and other items that are stored in your garage.
Having a complete inventory will help you know what has been stolen in
the event of a burglary.
When marking your property, either with permanent or invisible marking,
where you place your markings is very important. Common areas are in the
back or underneath, as this keeps the marks out of site. You always want
to mark your items in a location that can not be easily removed without
destroying the value of the item. You do not want the thieves to simply
take of the marked piece and get away with your stuff.
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