Security marking movable objects
Discussion
Note to Mods: This seemed like the most relevant subforum as it's theft-prevention in general, but if there's somewhere better please move accordingly.
I have a few things that are kept outdoors, or in a low-security shed. I want to mark them in order to reduce the chances of theft, and increase the odds of recovery to me if later found.
I've done what I can to make them less visible from the roadside, I've locked them down physically and they are all covered by CCTV. Bicycles, car trailer, and probably a load of other things I've not considered as on a thief's wishlist. However, I don't have the option of building more secure storage to hold these, so they will remain physically accessible to anyone prepared to poke about and bring an angle grinder.
I remember years back it was a case of mechanically marking stuff with punches of your postcode, then it was UV permanent markers. Now I go online and there's all sorts of DNA-based potions, smart waters, RFID tags, all sorts.
Any recommendations (or recommendations to avoid) from personal experience?
I have a few things that are kept outdoors, or in a low-security shed. I want to mark them in order to reduce the chances of theft, and increase the odds of recovery to me if later found.
I've done what I can to make them less visible from the roadside, I've locked them down physically and they are all covered by CCTV. Bicycles, car trailer, and probably a load of other things I've not considered as on a thief's wishlist. However, I don't have the option of building more secure storage to hold these, so they will remain physically accessible to anyone prepared to poke about and bring an angle grinder.
I remember years back it was a case of mechanically marking stuff with punches of your postcode, then it was UV permanent markers. Now I go online and there's all sorts of DNA-based potions, smart waters, RFID tags, all sorts.
Any recommendations (or recommendations to avoid) from personal experience?
Smart water have been going for many years are are pretty unique in how they work and from reports ive seen it works well.
https://shop.smartwater.com/
https://shop.smartwater.com/
donkmeister said:
I want to mark them in order to reduce the chances of theft...
I googled Smartwater and I got.. Water.I really need to do this myself and will look into Smartwater but how can it be a deterrent against theft if it can't be seen?
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
Actual said:
I googled Smartwater and I got.. Water.
I really need to do this myself and will look into Smartwater but how can it be a deterrent against theft if it can't be seen?
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
I think the idea is you also add stickers to convey that there's the markings somewhere that they might not be able to find it. Just intended to make it so they consider if stealing this particular trailer/bike is going to cause them a headache. Obviously not security by itself but adds a layer of potential pain for the thief if they're later found with the item or linked back as the person who sold the item.I really need to do this myself and will look into Smartwater but how can it be a deterrent against theft if it can't be seen?
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
raddog said:
Bikes and trailer, definitely use Datatag: https://datatag.co.uk/about.php
And engrave postcode. Selectadna is the one police use (as in, can trace) these days
https://www.selectadna.co.uk/dna-asset-marking/sel...
https://www.selectadna.co.uk/dna-asset-marking/sel...
You might want to consider 'something' that will deter the scrotes.......
Yeah, Borat's bear, housed in your shed should both deter the scrotes AND leave a trail of the contents of their lower intestine, easily followed by police tracker dogs!
Seriously, make sure you are insured. And security mark your possessions. And fit an additional lock(s), if possible. And chain anything easily movable down etc.
You can't truly prevent potential theft. But you can make sure your neighbour is an easier potential target.
It's bit like the old joke. Two guys faced with a charging lion. The one who survives is not the one who can out run a lion. But the guy who can outrun his companion!
Yeah, Borat's bear, housed in your shed should both deter the scrotes AND leave a trail of the contents of their lower intestine, easily followed by police tracker dogs!
Seriously, make sure you are insured. And security mark your possessions. And fit an additional lock(s), if possible. And chain anything easily movable down etc.
You can't truly prevent potential theft. But you can make sure your neighbour is an easier potential target.
It's bit like the old joke. Two guys faced with a charging lion. The one who survives is not the one who can out run a lion. But the guy who can outrun his companion!
Actual said:
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
Worth less, but not worthless!But yes, if you have no plans to sell them on (or move) it would at very least be easy to trace back to you I found at a known theifs address in a raid. Which greatly helps with convictions.
I remember my parents writing the postcode in the inside of a trailers floor maybe 15 years ago for this same reason. Permanent marker into plywood isn't going to fall off any time soon. Pretty sure it was an insurance requirement too.
Nobody cares about stickers, engravings, UV markings when they see it for sale on a stand in a London market and the price is cheap enough. Nobody. It's a waste of time. Just secure the buildings with enough chains and obstacles in the way that they'll move onto your neighbour who has no such chains and obstacles.
Big things like trailers you could stick a battery powered tracker in and then go get back yourself, all of your other stuff would probably be with it.
Charge it up twice a year, it phones you as soon as it feels any movement so you might even stop them taking everything.
https://monimoto.com/uk/
Charge it up twice a year, it phones you as soon as it feels any movement so you might even stop them taking everything.
https://monimoto.com/uk/
I agree with the premise that stickers and engravings won't deter anyone from pinching a trailer. Stickers can be ripped off, engravings can be wazzed off in seconds with an angle grinder, marker pens will be painted over.
If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
donkmeister said:
Actual said:
I googled Smartwater and I got.. Water.
I really need to do this myself and will look into Smartwater but how can it be a deterrent against theft if it can't be seen?
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
I think the idea is you also add stickers to convey that there's the markings somewhere that they might not be able to find it. Just intended to make it so they consider if stealing this particular trailer/bike is going to cause them a headache. Obviously not security by itself but adds a layer of potential pain for the thief if they're later found with the item or linked back as the person who sold the item.I really need to do this myself and will look into Smartwater but how can it be a deterrent against theft if it can't be seen?
I should get a hot soldering iron and very visibly carve my surname and postcode into all my power tools and all my other stuff. It might destroy their second-hand value but should make it worthless to a thief trying to sell down at the local car boot.
Mont Blanc said:
I agree with the premise that stickers and engravings won't deter anyone from pinching a trailer. Stickers can be ripped off, engravings can be wazzed off in seconds with an angle grinder, marker pens will be painted over.
If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
Re the tags. Is it possible for the scrote to have a scanner of some sort, find the tag then bin it ?If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
markymarkthree said:
Mont Blanc said:
I agree with the premise that stickers and engravings won't deter anyone from pinching a trailer. Stickers can be ripped off, engravings can be wazzed off in seconds with an angle grinder, marker pens will be painted over.
If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
Re the tags. Is it possible for the scrote to have a scanner of some sort, find the tag then bin it ?If it was me, I would hide an Apple AirTag inside the trailer light cluster. They are only the size of a 50p coin, the battery lasts for over a year, and they cost £22 each. Zero subscription or anything like that.
Thats a very cheap and effective way of locating something if it disappears. I guy I know led the police to a house to recover his stolen tree-surgeon tools as he had glued AirTags inside the plastic engine covers of his Stihl chainsaws.
It isn't foolproof, but it's certainly an option.
Tisy said:
Nobody cares about stickers, engravings, UV markings when they see it for sale on a stand in a London market and the price is cheap enough. Nobody. It's a waste of time. Just secure the buildings with enough chains and obstacles in the way that they'll move onto your neighbour who has no such chains and obstacles.
Bu if the police to a raid, and find a load of presumed stolen gear, it does help with convictions.blue_haddock said:
The thing about smartwater is they have a very high percentage of conviction rate where their products have been used because its so hard to remove.
Yeah, no first hand experience, but it appears a nice product and gets good reviews and endorsements. Broadly does the same as burning your postcode and house number into the side of it, but without the obvious damage.
It's a well recognised brand, with good police acceptance and understanding.
To an extent, for the £50 starter pack with spray, labels, etc you can go wrong. In fact I might but pack now!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartwater
https://shop.smartwater.com/
They also do an intruder/person marking spray, which can be used handheld by security staff, police, rape victims, or automatically deployed using intruder triggered machine. Which is quite cool tech.
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