Marines

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Provost Marshal's Office is pushing a new program called Operation Identification due to recent burglaries in the family housing areas here. Operation Identification is a nationally recognized property identification program open to all residents here and Marine Corps Air Station New River Community. The program is designed to deter thieves from stealing property and aid in their recovery. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Holgersen)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Holgersen

PMO urges people to participate in new program

20 Dec 2005 | Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Holgersen Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

The Provost Marshal’s Office is pushing a new program called Operation Identification due to recent burglaries in the family housing areas here.

Operation Identification is a nationally recognized property identification program open to all residents here and in the Marine Corps Air Station New River community.

The program is designed to deter thieves from stealing property and aid in stolen property recovery.

The system is simple but effective. It is accomplished by engraving personal property with a serial number of the abbreviation of the state of residence and driver’s license number.

“Marked property is difficult for a thief or burglar to dispose of or resell and can be traced to the rightful owner with relative ease,” said Lt. Col. Stephen A. Simpson, the provost marshal for MCB. “If a perpetrator is caught with marked property, it is solid evidence of possession of stolen goods.”

To participate in the program, call the Physical Security Section of PMO at 451-4339 or visit PMO between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. A military policeman will engrave the items and obtain the necessary identifying information for the accompanying form.

It is also possible to borrow an electric engraver to use at home, which must be returned within 48 hours. The Provost Marshal’s Office doesn’t take responsibility for damaged engravers.

The engraver is easy and safe to use and should be practiced with before engraving belongings.  Use a piece of paper to practice on by touching the engraver very lightly to the surface. Don’t press down just let the engraver do the work. For wood or glass, hold the engraver straight up and down to prevent chipping or splintering.

Once PMO has the information on the belongings, the owner can place an accompanying flyer in their barracks room or house window to warn thieves of participation in the program.

It is important to keep a copy of all the serial numbers in a safe place so they are not lost and so there is an extra copy on hand. If housed in the barracks, it might be a good idea to send the list to a relative for safekeeping. It is important to engrave new items purchased and add it to the list as well as take pictures of smaller items so they can be easily identified.