This feels like a good time to make sure people are aware of Immobilse. It was designed for the recording of IMEI numbers of mobile phones but actually will take any serial number.
The beauty of this site is that it means that all of the serial numbers can be safely stored BEFORE you lose your item. It will accept photographs too which can help with identification.
Importantly, with IMEI numbers stored, you can quickly flag a device as stolen and this links in with CheckMEND and the police databases, which means that should the device be taken to CEX etc, when they run the checks it will flag as stolen.
Here's the blurb from their front page.
Benefits of Registration
Immobilise helps Police identify the owners of recovered property thousands of times everyday.
Property updates you make are immediately available to the Police nationally.
Combat the sale of stolen gadgets & valuables; alert the second-hand trade & publicly checkable stolen goods database CheckMEND if an item goes missing.
Simplify insurance claims and Police reports with certificates of ownership.
Great member offers from Immobilise’s numerous supporters, often helping support the FREE provision of Immobilise.
If you need to obtain a Loss Report Number for insurance purposes please visit Report My Loss.
All comments (22)
MarioMan
12 Nov 16#1
Not sure if its in the correct category or deal, but hope it helps out!
loiterer to MarioMan
13 Nov 16#12
Deal or no deal, OP, the fact one can store details of anything (including collectables) for free is marvellous. I don't, have never and will never, use a mobile phone. But given our Police Service use this database along with CheckMend, all photographs of my vintage/antique collectibles, plus electronic device serial numbers will go on here. I'd never before heard of these sites, so, a great find OP. Many thanks.
pimmzy
12 Nov 16#2
My best friend, who is a cop uses this at work daily.
Awesome site
MarioMan to pimmzy
12 Nov 16#4
What's his role, like a office fraud cop?
dothedealnow
12 Nov 161#3
Unfortunately does not protect from some tealeaf stealing your mobile. My stolen, Immobilise registered, Nexus 5:is out there somewhere...... That said always register my phones.
veedubjai
12 Nov 16#5
Good as a reminder for those not aware.
pimmzy
13 Nov 16#6
Robbery squad
Beebee18
13 Nov 16#7
Thanks, I didn't know about Immobilise. I shall register families phones.
Mermoo
13 Nov 16#8
Thanks for the info.
DealDog
13 Nov 16#9
thanks
loady
13 Nov 16#10
Thank you
Blender
13 Nov 16#11
Registered and just put my new mobile on the site. Cheers OP!
tinkerbellian
13 Nov 16#13
Register all our bikes on here too.
snoopy18
13 Nov 16#14
Thanks
OperateOnMe
13 Nov 16#15
Fantastic post, used this at university over a decade ago, good to know its still working. Just updated my details.
simile
13 Nov 162#16
YES! If you do one thing, please log your items with immobilise, especially bikes and electronics. Everything logged on Immobilise is uploaded onto the National Mobile Property Register so if your items are stolen/recovered, the Police can return it to you.
A friend that works for Police was telling me that over a recent period approx 30 bikes were stolen yet in only 1 report was the serial number known. One bike was worth over £1,400 and they didn't know the serial number!
Obviously it will not prevent your items from being stolen but if someone tries to sell it onto CEX/Cash Converters etc it will flag up if you have reported it as stolen and the sale will be refused and details passed to police.
Don't make it easy for thieves!
swimmer01
13 Nov 161#17
thats good to know thanks
shamim000
14 Nov 16#18
Awesome share OP
DEBULL77
14 Nov 16#19
I just went on the Immobilse site to register and found that I had registerd over 11 years ago !! . so I thought ooh me being forgetfull again. but when I checked on "my " registered items there where around 60+ mobile phones registerd to me over the last 11 years that are certainly not mine, so I am not sure how secure this site is, as someone has been registering items on my account. my personal details were all correct for my address 11 years ago..
Mr cool to DEBULL77
15 Nov 16#21
This is a massive worry I feel , on this post alone I would say not very!
Youngy
15 Nov 16#20
I registered my devices some months ago, but how does this protect from being stolen? The service is designed to get your devices back to you after being stolen if they're found by police etc, so they can trace you. No actual protection from being stolen in the first place.
Mr cool to Youngy
15 Nov 16#22
As been said it is only going to help with if they try to sell the stuff on or the police have a found item!
Opening post
The beauty of this site is that it means that all of the serial numbers can be safely stored BEFORE you lose your item. It will accept photographs too which can help with identification.
Importantly, with IMEI numbers stored, you can quickly flag a device as stolen and this links in with CheckMEND and the police databases, which means that should the device be taken to CEX etc, when they run the checks it will flag as stolen.
Here's the blurb from their front page.
Benefits of Registration
Immobilise helps Police identify the owners of recovered property thousands of times everyday.
Property updates you make are immediately available to the Police nationally.
Combat the sale of stolen gadgets & valuables; alert the second-hand trade & publicly checkable stolen goods database CheckMEND if an item goes missing.
Simplify insurance claims and Police reports with certificates of ownership.
Great member offers from Immobilise’s numerous supporters, often helping support the FREE provision of Immobilise.
If you need to obtain a Loss Report Number for insurance purposes please visit Report My Loss.
All comments (22)
Awesome site
A friend that works for Police was telling me that over a recent period approx 30 bikes were stolen yet in only 1 report was the serial number known. One bike was worth over £1,400 and they didn't know the serial number!
Obviously it will not prevent your items from being stolen but if someone tries to sell it onto CEX/Cash Converters etc it will flag up if you have reported it as stolen and the sale will be refused and details passed to police.
Don't make it easy for thieves!