UTTLESFORD residents are being urged to protect their most valuable possessions – and make life awkward for thieves and burglars at the same time – by getting them property-marked.
Neighbourhood policing officers recently held a property-marking session in Newport in conjunction with Uttlesford Neighbourhood Watch.
Dozens of people took the opportunity to have a range of possessions – including bikes, mobile phones, laptops and even a wheelchair – invisibly or permanently stamped with their post codes FREE of charge.
This not only provides damning evidence against suspected criminals when police seize caches of stolen goods, but also makes it much easier for them to reunite items with their rightful owners.
The property-marking event in Newport took place at Jikes Youth Club and was attended by PCs Hannah Griffiths and Rose Clarely and PCSOs Andy Davis and Derek Giffin.
Cllr Alastair Walters, cabinet member for Community Safety on Uttlesford District Council, hailed the event “a great success” and said more sessions were being planned.
“Getting your most treasured possessions property-marked makes life difficult for the criminals and gives you peace of mind,” he said.
“The police stamp your post code on your property invisibly or permanently, and it doesn’t cost you a penny.
“It makes it much easier for the police to charge criminals when they seize stolen goods and enables them to return them to the people they were stolen from.
“Uttlesford Neighbourhood Watch and our local neighbourhood policing teams plan to hold more of property-marking sessions in the district.
“I urge residents not to miss the opportunity to take their valuables along – they can stamp almost anything and it won’t cost you a penny.”
Residents will get another chance to get their valuables stamped in a few weeks’ time when the property-marking team visit Saffron Walden. They will be on stand-by to stamp your most treasured possessions from 10am on Tuesday July 16 in the town’s Market Place.
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