DOCUMENT YOUR PROPERTY             

In the arena of crime prevention we often talk about proactive steps to take in order to lessen the chance of being a crime victim. One important step that people often overlook is to carefully make written documentation of your valuable property. Many people never take the time to document their valuables. The reason to take this important step is two fold. First, It's very important to have an accurate documented record of your valuables for your insurance company in case your property is stolen. Second, it's very important to have a good description of your property to report to the police in case of theft.

The police have access to a massive computer system named NYSPIN. That stands for the New York State Police Information Network. The police are able to enter stolen property into this system if the crime victim is able to give the required information on the stolen property. The required information includes make, model, color, size, serial number and any other identifiable characteristics. Once the information is entered into the computer system, any police agency in New York and surrounding states can identify the property as stolen. This can lead to the arrest of suspects and the recovery of stolen property for the crime victims.

You can see how important it is to have this information for both the insurance company and the police. This will ultimately be beneficial to you, as it can lead to a more favorable insurance settlement and assist with the police investigation. You can contact your insurance agent who should be able to provide you with property identification forms that will assist you in this process. Some homeowners have also photographed or videotaped their property for a permanent record. Just make sure that you record the model and serial number of the items. It is also a good idea to photograph items like jewelry and antiques that have an uncommon appearance or are hard to describe. This process that only takes a few hours of your time can be of great benefit in case you are the victim of a property crime. Please take the time to record your valuables and do your part to HARDEN YOUR TARGET..

For more information call the Webster Police Community Services Unit at 872-1216 ext. 233

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