If there's one way of making sure someone knows that something belongs to you, it's putting your name on it.

Why not take that one step further in the home? 

Property is returned in only 9% of cases where something has been stolen but hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of property remains in the hands of the police after being recovered, simply because it can't be properly identified. 

Marking your property is one of the most simple and effective ways of protecting your possessions. 

To start with, property marking puts burglars off because it will let others know that the item has been stolen making it much more difficult to sell on. The other big advantage is that it makes tracing and returning your stolen property a lot easier for the police. 

There are two main types of property marking: 

Permanent marking 

This is when you engrave or "punch" your property with your street number and postcode. Inexpensive permanent marking kits can be bought from most DIY stores. 

Punching is a form of permanent marking that is done with a hammer and a set of punches bearing numbers and letters. This method is good for bicycles, lawnmowers, engines or other sturdy metal objects, but do not use this on aluminium as it is easily damaged. Punch in your postcode and the number of your house.

Invisible protection - Ultra Violet 

Invisible marking is the other method of property marking. This is best for antiques or valuable property, such as audio and video equipment, CD's, DVD's, cameras and mobile phones that would lose value if spoiled by permanent marking. Police usually check stolen property with a special ultra-violet lamp, so an ultra-violet (UV) marker pen should be used. 

As with permanent marking, use your postcode and house number and mark again if you move house. Remember though, it is possible for UV marking to fade so it is advisable to renew post coding every so often, say every couple of years or so. 

Although you cannot see it with the naked eye, invisible marking can still be a deterrent to burglars, but you must let them know you've done it by using stickers from the police saying, "property in this home has been marked". 

When it comes to deciding which items to mark, the answer is "up to you". 
Think about what you value most and what might be attractive to thieves. Again, the best advice is that almost anything can be a target for theft, so why not mark everything? 

It's worth keeping a property list or inventory of all your household possessions, and be sure to mark the things that you own as you compile your list, including items kept in your shed or garage. 

Finally, where you mark your property is important, especially if engraving or punching. The chances are you will want to keep the mark out of sight, so try marking underneath or around the back of the item. 

The most important thing to remember is to choose a surface that cannot be removed without spoiling the basic appearance or performance of the item. If thieves can't remove your mark without breaking your property, then it's worthless and they probably will not want it. 

If you don't know your postcode, ask at your local post office, or click here 

To obtain a free UV marker pen and warning stickers: 

Simply send an SAE to 

UV Pens Offer, 
Community Safety 
Derbyshire Police HQ 
Butterley Hall 
Ripley 
Derbyshire 
DE5 3RS.