ECSO announces availability of free serial number registry service

ELLIS COUNTY — The Ellis County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce the availability of a free serial number registry service for the public's use. Access this service via the Ellis County Sheriff's Office's website at www.elliscountysheriff.com by clicking on "Serial Number Registry," which is listed under the "Other Information" header on the lower left-hand rail.

Clicking on "Serial Number Registry" will take you to a webpage that explains this program and contains a link to the "ReportIt" site, where you can sign up a personal account and start logging serial numbers and other information for your valuable items.

This citizen property inventory system is maintained by "LeadsOnline" and is a safe and secure database where people can register information and upload photographs of their items. Serial numbers can be found on televisions, stereos, game systems, computers, firearms, kitchen appliances, camcorders, air conditioners, cell phones, cameras and numerous other items. Finding one stolen item with a recorded serial number can sometimes help investigators solve multiple burglaries.

Items without serial numbers, such as jewelry, can be registered by uploading photographs of them. A permanent marker should be used to place your initials or other owner-applied identifier on CDs, DVDs, videos and game cartridges for identification purposes. The system also allows you to upload scans of receipts.

Each account's information is password protected and accessed via a secure socket layer network connection, which is the same type of connection used when accessing an online bank account. The system utilizes the same high-level security measures used by financial institutions and government agencies in protecting the information that is entered.

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office invites people to help spread the word about this free property inventory system for citizen use. Please tell your friends and neighbors so they can register their serial numbers and protect their valuables.

This service, which can be used for insurance purposes, also, has a maximum of 100 items; however, it can be extended to more if an email is sent to LeadsOnline's technical support, as explained on its website.

Anyone who experiences the theft of an item will still file a report with law enforcement for investigation. Law enforcement does not have access to individual accounts set up under this system. Should your property go missing, you will need to print the information from any computer with Internet access to give to your detective.