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Times Record News
Service helps recover stolen items
Serial numbers, photos, receipts in database are keys
By Matt Ledesma
March 21, 2011
Thefts and natural disasters are seldom occurrences that people can plan for.
But Wichita Falls police are encouraging residents to be better prepared for each with an Internet-based service.
Leads Online is an online investigation service used by law enforcement agencies nationwide to solve property crimes.
The service expanded recently to let people inventory items in its expansive database, making it easier to track the theft and sale of stolen property.
Officer Brian Bohn of the Wichita Falls police Crime Prevention Unit, said he has preached the merits of the website — www.reportit.leadsonline.com — to the Crime Free Lifestyles classes he teaches.
He said the service provides the primary step for finding stolen items — having owners record serial numbers.
"So often when we have a theft reported to us, people don't have a serial number to go with the item," Bohn said.
"When you don't have that number, it's harder to determine with all certainty the item we've recovered is the same one that was stolen from the person.
"If we have the serial number to start with, we can just match it up with the item from the report and get on with the process. It really helps speed things up for us and the victim."
Bohn said things such as computers, GPS units, televisions and other entertainment equipment are the most common items reported stolen. He said that's also why they're the best things to inventory on the site.
Other possessions, such as jewelry, also can be recorded by taking pictures of the items and even scanning in a receipt of purchase.
When a suspect attempts to sell a stolen item at a pawn shop or other secondhand retailer, those transactions are run through the same database.
"Those sale tickets will pop up as matching the description of a stolen item, and from there we can track the person down," Bohn said.
"We'll use that information and what we have from the burglary report to make a positive match."
The site also monitors eBay, the world's largest online marketplace.
Bohn said police see no security issues with the site because only law enforcement authorities are able to view the inventoried items. A list of someone's property is not posted where other users can see it, he said.
Bohn said the site proves effective for insurance claims after a natural disaster. If items are lost in fires, floods or tornadoes, the owner will already have a list of property to turn in as a claim.
"Up until a couple of months ago, law enforcement agencies were the only ones with access to this service," Bohn said.
"Now we are encouraging everyone to get involved because it's going to help the investigators solve cases and get stolen items returned to their owners."