Working
to Reduce Theft and Burglaries in Pitt County
Pitt County is
witnessing an upward trend in theft and burglary. This increase in
property crimes is likely attributable to the current economic climate
and unemployment.
To combat
this rise in property crimes, the Sheriff’s Office is ramping up its
crime prevention efforts by promoting the Operation
Identification program. Law enforcement must have the
communities help in reducing crime.
Currently,
serial numbers and/or owner applied numbers for stolen property are
known by the victim and provided to investigating officers in only
seventeen percent (17%) of the property crime cases reported to the
Sheriff’s Office.
Operation
Identification is a program used to discourage home burglaries and
property theft. Operation Identification encourages property owners
to record serial numbers or apply a marking/engraving on property
with an identifying number such as one’s license number. Having this
information on hand will greatly assist law enforcement in identifying
property should it be stolen and/or recovered.
The Pitt
County Sheriff’s Office wants to work with citizens in their homes and
community to deter criminal activity by providing prevention
information, and programs such as Operation Identification.
Stolen
property that can be identified by a serial number or an owner applied
number (OAN) allows for that property to be entered into national
crime files, which greatly increases the probability of future
recovery and the capture of perpetrators.
Operation ID: What to do…
1. Mark
property or valuables with an identifying mark, preferably your
driver's license with state abbreviation followed by number:
Example: [NC123456]
Use brackets so #s and letters
will be hard to add.
2.
Inventory your marked property on a form with descriptions including
brand, model number, and serial number.
3. Make
several copies of this information and store in a safe place.
For more information call Pitt
County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Prevention Unit:
252-902-2727
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