Chiltern and South Bucks Community Safety Partnership is urging people to take a few any valuables or high value gifts they may have received. Many residents be lucky enough to receive gifts such as iPads, consoles and bikes over the Christmas period, all of which are desirable to thieves.

Marking property ensures it can be returned to its rightful owner in the event of it being recovered after a burglary. It also acts as a deterrent to thieves by making the items harder to sell on. Property should be marked on the back or underneath with a postcode and house number using an ultra violet (UV) pen which are available in most DIY stores.

Larger items, such as bicycles or machinery can be security marked using CRE markers or bike marking labels. The bike label should be attached around the bike frame and your postcode and house number should be written on the label. Another way to security mark your property is CRE marking. Using the marker write your postcode and house number on the item and this can be made permanent by coating the markings with CREMARK’s specially formulated protective lacquer, for more information please visit: www.creproducts.co.uk

Using forensic marking products such as SmartWater and Selecta DNA are also a highly effective way to mark property. A liquid solution is applied giving items either a chemical or DNA code depending on the product used, which is unique to the owner. The solution cannot be seen by the naked eye and is incredibly difficult to remove. It glows under ultraviolet light, allowing the police to detect it.

Unfortunately Christmas offers a lot of opportunities for burglars, bikes and electronic items are worth a lot of money to opportunist thieves, but there are some simple steps people can take to reduce their chances of falling victim.

A few minutes spent marking your valuables and registering them on Immobilise.com is time well-spent. You stand a much better chance of getting your item back in the unfortunate event of it being lost or stolen.

If you would like a free UV pen or bike marking label email communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk (please note pens are limited to one per household and subject to availability).

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