Garda warning: Record serial numbers to help recovery of valuables

Kildare Gardai have warned the public that marking property is very important and offers the best chance of it being returned to you.

In the last year only 4% of tools had a serial number or engraving recorded.

Similarly, only 11% of laptops or tablets had a serial number or engraving recorded.

In addition, just 51% of mobile phones had a serial number or IMEI number recorded.

The figure for bicycles with a serial number or frame number recorded - is only 8%.

A Garda spokesman says: "Keep the details of your property in a property register.

"Download a property register template from Garda.ie. Keep the register safe along with photos of valuables."

In total across the country, burglars stole €7 million of Jewellery, €3.5 million in cash, €1 million of electronic devices and €1 million of tools in residential burglaries in the year from June 2016 to July 2017.

Gardai added: "Marking property is less desirable to burglars as it is harder for them to sell.

"Marked property is more likely to be returned to its owner. Marking property with your Eircode allows us to uniquely identify your property and therefore you, the owner.

"This helps us to detect crime, prevent crime and helps us in our investigations."