Crime & Safety

Is Your Property Ready to be Stolen?

Eureka Police Department officers will loan Eureka residents a free ultraviolet marking system to identify items if they are stolen.

Property theft can be discouraged, and stolen items sometimes can be retrieved when they are "security marked".

Eureka Police Department Chief Michael Wiegand announces they now can provide a unique marking system to protect residents' property.

"Our citizens are provided a valuable and economical way to mark their property, either visibly or invisibly with our special Property Marking Kit. These kits are loaned to residents for one week, free of charge," said Wiegand.

Each Property Marking Kit contains:

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • one permanent ink marker
  • one ultraviolet light source
  • labels
  • inventory List

Each kit contains warning labels, indicates Wiegand. "These labels remind you that personal property has been marked. To a would-be thief, it indicates some type of security mark has been applied."

An inventory list also is provided to itemize those items marked. If items are stolen, the list can be provided to law enforcement officers.

The security marking system permits each person to put a Missouri Driver's License number on property, such as flat screen televisions, laptops, iPods, and iPads. License numbers are traceable by law enforcement representatives in all 50 states. Using the ultraviolet pen creates a mark invisible to the naked eye, but very visible under a ultraviolet light source.

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wiegand said an electronic engraver also can be loaned for larger objects that need to have the number applied for security purposes and having the number visible is not a concern.

Once marked, license numbers can be seen only under ultraviolet light.

Wiegand said marking one's items is vital because marked and traceable property is unattractive to thieves and burglars. "They may avoid your property and go for the easier targets."

For more details about security marking systems, call the Eureka Police Department at 636-938-6600 or email Chief Wiegand at mwiegand@eureka.mo.us.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Eureka-Wildwood