COLUMN: Mark your belongings in case of theft

Submitted photo.

Ellis County Sheriff Johnny Brown.

OK, folks, let’s talk about marking your belongings this week.

If you keep records of serial numbers that’s great, but some things don’t have a serial number or it’s hard to read or you can’t find the serial number.

Put some type of identifier on your personal property. It can be numbers, lines, dots or anything you want as long as you know what it is and can tell law enforcement it has that identifier on it and where it is located on the item.

Do this on things such as tools, ice chests, bicycles, just anything that you want to identify as yours.

It’s always a good idea to photograph jewelry and high cost items such as guns and antiques for insurance reasons.

This is not just for thefts but also fire, tornado or other natural disasters.

Every year we have to destroy items that I know people would like to have returned but they just can’t identify it without a serial number. Putting identifying marks on your property will help us get it back to you in the event you do get something stolen or lost.

Also, remember that school has started and to watch the school zones and for the kids at the bus stops.

As always, keep our military and service personnel in your thoughts and prayers as we remember that the rights and freedoms we enjoy begin with their service and safekeeping of our great nation. May you have a Blessed Week.

Johnny Brown has served as Sheriff of Ellis County since Jan. 1, 2009, and is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute. He has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and holds a Master’s Peace Officer’s Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.