Police to engrave power tools at Whangarei station as proof of ownership

Get your power tools engraved.

Power tools are hot property for thieves but Whangarei police hope they have a new tactic that will act as a deterrent or make it easier to find the owners if stolen.

Police are taking it into their own hands and offering to engrave power tools for tradies and DIYers at Whangarei police station tomorrowevening.

Sergeant James Calvert said returning tools to owners could often be difficult for police if they were not marked, as could proving they were stolen.

Often police discovered stolen power tools during search warrants but some times finding the owner could prove hard.

"On one warrant hundreds of tools were located but because they were taken from properties over a wide geographical area it was difficult to track the owners."

Last week officers went to a tradies breakfast at a Whangarei building supplier and engraved some tools and, due to the positive response, decided to hold an evening at the station.

"Owners' driver's licence numbers will be etched into their tools. It's a unique way that enables us to identify who they belong to," Mr Calvert said.

He also urged tradies to record the serial numbers of the tools and keep them in a locked shed. Depending on the demand the engraving evenings could become a regular event.

If you want your power tools engraved head to the Whangarei Station on Wednesday from 5pm.Follow this advice to reduce the risk of offenders targeting your tools and increase the prospect of having your property returned if we track it down:

*Engrave your tools with your driver licence number. That way, if we find your tools, there's a better chance of us getting them back to you.

*Keep a record of the serial numbers.

*If you work on a construction site, be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.

*Take your tools home with you, or lock them up in a shed on site.

*For construction companies that own tools, we would support the engraving of company names and phone numbers onto the goods.

*Second-hand dealers and the public should be wary of tools being offered to them at a price that's too good to be true.