CRIME PREVENTION TIP OF THE MONTH: Inventory your valuables

 By Gwen Snell
Freelance Journalist

Property crimes can involve the theft of valuable or irreplaceable items.  When considering ways to safe guard your loss or assist in the return of your stolen items, Sergeant Rob Welsman provides this tip – do a photographic inventory. 

“Many people do not have the patience to write down long lists of their property’s serial numbers, but with the common smart phone, it is now easy to go through your home and take pictures of your valuables, as well as any attached serial numbers.  In the event of a theft, these serial numbers can be added to the database of stolen items. This makes returning them to you, the rightful owner, that much easier.  When an officer in a different location - even in a different province - locates a suspected stolen item, and checks the item’s serial number on police databases, the officer will be alerted to the previous theft report.”

Your documented photographs clearly showing ownership can also assist with the prosecution of the offender for possession the stolen item.  If the item does not have a serial number a good photograph can still assist in proving ownership.  Photographs often reveal unique characteristics or historical damage to an item that helps with clear identification.

A photographic inventory would also prove useful in providing documentation for insurance coverage.  It’s a great method to provide the owner with a comprehensive record without the overwhelming task of generating a detailed written list. 

Sergeant Rob Welsman concludes his tip with a call to action: “Consider taking an hour out of your day to photograph your important items!”