Gadget owners across West Berkshire are being encouraged by local police to register their goods online so that officers can easily track them in the event that they are stolen.

Sgt Alan Hawkett who is part of the local policing team for Bucklebury and Downlands is leading the initiative and wants people to register their equipment on to the Immobilise website. The free web-site records unique serial numbers for many items including i-pads and bicycles so that police can track them in the event that they are stolen.

Historically, if you had your television stolen you wouldn’t have the serial number

This scheme allows you to upload this information on to the Immobilise system.

If an item is stolen the public needs to notify both the police and Immobilise, which will then enable us to be able to see it as a stolen item on the site with the serial number.

Sgt Hawkett feels that use of this system will help deter thieves because;

soon it will become common knowledge that people can label their property which is then identifiable to the police.

The information stored on the website will only be accessed by officers in the event of a theft being reported, says Sgt Hawkett.

The police have already been successful in encouraging members of the public to sign up to the scheme. Since June 245 items were registered on the service at a three-hour session for members of the public, and a further 23 on July 25 at an event in Thatcham, followed by 33 sign-ups on August 2nd.

The police were also in Newbury town centre last Saturday between 6pm and 11pm informing members of the public of the scheme and Sgt Hawkett says that 36 accounts were created at the session. Banjo Cycles and Specialised Concept Store in Newbury are both involved with the project and support it.

To view the source story please go to: www.newburytoday.co.uk/2014/public-urged-to-log-items-online-to-deter-thieves