Steps for better recovery

Local News

Discussion

November 10, 2009

Keelin: Large amount of stolen items never make it back to owner

By CARRIE STAMBAUGH - The Independent The Daily Independent Tue Nov 10, 2009, 12:15 AM EST

ASHLAND — THIS IS the second in a two-part series about how police investigate, identify and recover stolen property.

Getting stolen items back after a theft is challenging but law enforcement officials and others say a few simple but effective steps can make a big difference.

Boyd County Sheriff Terry Keelin offered this advice: “If it’s stealable, if someone would want to steal it, do something to identify it.”

Keelin said a large number of items is never found. Many recovered stolen items never make it back to their owners because they can’t be positively identified.

Many times stolen items are seized but may just be sitting in a police evidence locker waiting to be claimed.

“We hold it, unless somebody identifies it. I’ve got stuff I’ve held for two or three years just waiting to see if anybody ever identifies it or can identify it,” Keelin said.

If no one can identify the items, they are auctioned off to the public as surplus property. Keelin says this happens “a lot.”

The simplest and most effective thing individuals can do to identify and help police find their stolen belongings is to write down serial numbers and the make and model of items.

Firearms, game systems, television sets, other electronics, power tools, ATVs, bicycles and anything else that has this information on it can often easily be identified through these numbers, according to Keelin.

National tracking systems, such as LeadsOnline, which many pawnbrokers are required to report to, are only effective if the owner and police agencies have this information.

Recovery of items are found at locations that do report to a searchable database can also be made simpler using this same information, Keelin said. The same holds true for items turned over by suspects or recovered from them by police.

For items that do not have their own unique identifiers, such as hand-tools or jewelry, Flatwoods Police Chief Tom Haynes said owner applied identifiers are very effective.

Engraving a name, or some other type of unique number, symbol or mark using widely available electronic engraving pens is simple, he said.

“We have to have something to enter into NCIC (national crime information center) and I know NCIC and LeadsOnline work hand in hand querying back and forth,” Haynes said.

Keelin said often something as simple as nail polish can be an effective identifier.

He recounted a case where police were able to locate and return a number of stolen tools to a man because he’d applied a drop of pink nail polish to the items. “That is so unique that we were able to identify it,” Keelin said.

He also advised individuals to have their jewelry and watches engraved with identifying information.

Cher Williams, a loan manager at Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry, offered these additional tips.

“Write down a description of your jewelry. Do an inventory, write down what you have in your house that you feel is valuable. Take pictures of it and store it on a card somewhere separately,” she said. “A lot of people have safety deposit boxes that they keep that stuff in. Or keep it at work.”

Keeping items locked in a safe at home is often only effective if the safe is too large to be easily moved or is secured in a wall, according to Keelin.

Smaller safes that can be easily carried by one or two individuals are often taken and pried open later, he said.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

Text Only

Local News

Search for new ACTC president to begin soon
A national search will begin soon to replace Ashland Community and Technical College President Gregory D. Adkins, who is retiring.

February 8, 2012
Red Tails recommended
With sincere appreciation to their hosts, local military veterans whose service spanned World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan gathered at Kyova 10 Theatre late Tuesday afternoon for a screening of the film “Red Tails.”

February 8, 2012
More updates coming to Boyd jail
While a nonfunctional fire alarm system has been fixed, the Boyd County Detention Center is now dealing with problems in another of its security systems.

February 8, 2012
APD probes early morning stabbing
Ashland police are investigating a stabbing in the area of 30th Street and Greenup Avenue early Tuesday morning.

February 7, 2012
Local briefs: 2/8/12
A Carter County man was killed Monday in an all-terrain vehicle accident.

February 7, 2012
3 indicted in grave-marker thefts
A Carter County grand jury has indicted three in connection with the December theft of metal markers from the graves of World War II veterans.

February 7, 2012
Boyd to save money with refinancing
The Boyd County Fiscal Court is planning to save money by refinancing a bond issued for work on the county’s jail and sewer system.

February 7, 2012
White-nose syndrome found in more Kentucky caves
The mysterious and deadly disease that has been killing bats for several years in the United States has reached more caves in Kentucky.

February 7, 2012
A haunted hunt for a hidden hundred
On the heels of a tremendously popular effort in Louisa, “the Scare Crew” from the Fallsburg Haunted House will begin its next Haunted Hunt for Cash in Ashland this week, starting with a clue on the organization’s Facebook page.

February 7, 2012
Minton asks for additional funding
With several circuit clerks seated behind him, Kentucky’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court told a legislative budget subcommittee Tuesday the court system can’t retain entry-level employees because as soon as they are trained they’re hired away by the executive branch.

February 7, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Steps for better recovery

Keelin: Large amount of stolen items never make it back to owner

Site Map

Contact Us