The Madera Police Department encourages all area residents to participate in this very meaningful and crime prevention program. The program can be used in either the home or business for burglary prevention and property identification. Marking property with an identifying number can greatly discourage burglary and theft. This number also helps law enforcement agencies swiftly identify lost or stolen property.

Where To Get An Engraver Engraving tools are available at hardware, department or variety stores at affordable prices.

What To Mark With An Engraver Electronic equipment such as radios, televisions, camera equipment, VCRs, DVDs, compact discs, and tape decks are particularly attractive to thieves. Mark them along with sports equipment, small appliances and tools.

Small or very valuable items such as jewelry or antiques can either be engraved by a jeweler or photographed for identification purposes.

What To Use As An Identification Number Use your driver's license number and the state-identifier (CA for California). People who don't drive should use their California Identification Card number. These can be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Where To Make The Engraving Mark items as conspicuously as possible without defacing them. Make sure it is permanently affixed and not on any part that is removable. For additional protection, engrave an item a second time in a less obvious location.

How To Use An Engraver

• Hold the engraver straight up and down when in use.
• Adjust the tools for surface differences, if necessary.
• Practice using the tool before you mark your property.
• Read the manufacturer's recommendations and instructions for any variations of the above.

Keep An Inventory Of Engraved Items List your engraved items and include their make, model, size, color, and serial number, if applicable. Record the exact spots where you engraved your identification number on each item. Keep a copy at home and in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.

Display Your Operation I.D. Placard Once you've marked your property, place an OPERATION I.D. placard near every entrance of your home. The placard may be obtained below.

Program Enhancement You should also record other important items which are vulnerable to theft. Specifically, you should record credit card information and other documents which are not replaceable without additional means of identification.f