FREE! The tool you should borrow just in case

That’s free for you to borrow and use … just in case. Southwest Precinct Crime-Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner explains:

Due to a continued increase in burglaries over the last few months- the SW Precinct would like to remind our community members that you can rent a professional engraver from the SW Precinct for free!

These engravers allow you to mark your property (such as tools, bicycles and electronics) with an identifying number- such as your Driver’s License number. Then if/when your items are stolen- you are able to report to law enforcement that it was marked. These markings assist the Seattle Police Department in getting recovered property back to victims, as well as aid with investigations.

If you are interested in renting an engraver- please stop by the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster St.) and speak with the desk officer. Remember the SW Precinct is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Please also keep in mind that I, as your SW Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, offer free residential and commercial safety/security assessments! Contact me directly for more information and for scheduling.

jennifer.danner@seattle.gov is the best way to reach her. Meantime, whether you choose to borrow/use the engraver or not, she also recommends you keep a home inventory – here’s a template that can help.

7 Replies to "FREE! The tool you should borrow just in case"

  • waikikigirl July 17, 2018 (4:14 pm)

    My Dad had one and marked everything he owned after being broken into 19 times in 1 year! 

  • HelperMonkey July 17, 2018 (4:15 pm)

    I did that on the advice of my dad, back in the 90’s, and engraved my social security number on the inside inside of the handle of my 410 shotgun (plastic stock, you’d have to thoroughly disassemble to get there, so it wasn’t obvious and I figured at least I’d be able to disassemble and prove it was mine if needed). Then in 2003 it was stolen, so now they have my gun AND my social! D’oh! Long story short, it’s a great idea – just use your driver’s license number and don’t be a dummy like me. 

  • ddd July 17, 2018 (5:08 pm)

    Before marking everything with your DL number, be aware that WA is going to change to a new numbering system for licenses starting in September — so you’ll get a new number when you renew your license.Then, starting on Sept. 4, 2018, all driver’s license and ID cards
    issued will receive new driver license numbers. Under the new numbering
    system, all licenses will have WDL as the first three letters, and will
    be followed by nine randomly chosen alphabetical characters and numbers.Those
    who already have a driver’s license or ID card will get the new number
    when they renew or replace it after Sept. 4. The new driver license
    format will help protect customers’ personal information because the
    randomly generated number will not relate to an individual’s name or
    birthdate like the current ones.http://komonews.com/news/local/major-changes-coming-to-wash-state-drivers-licenses

  • Olfriend July 17, 2018 (10:41 pm)

    Really ! Is this seriously what we’ve come to? Sad that we are encouraged to rent a tool from local police department to mark our belongings in event of theft..sorry for the rant, but this is ridiculous! SPD  and their Union needs to up their performance and prosecute offenders! 

    • WSB July 17, 2018 (11:29 pm)

      This isn’t new, nor unique to Seattle. I tried a quick web search and got not only similar programs from police departments all around the country, but also a magazine article about it from 34 years ago.

  • waikikigirl July 18, 2018 (4:53 am)

    My previous comment above my Dad’s burglaries were back in the 70’s so it has been around for a very long time as WSB states. And my Dad had the smarts and just put his name on everything, he had a unique name. :)

  • Mark Schletty July 18, 2018 (8:33 am)

    Don’t use your DL number, or any other number that is publicly related to you. All that does is give the thief  info usable against you.  If you do mark objects use a “password” like letter/number configuration that you save and can supply to the police if something is stolen.

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