Police are urging people to security mark their tools after a number of thefts connected to tree surgeon equipment.

An insecure barn on Rectory Road in Kettleburgh near Woodbridge was entered between midday on 10 January to 11am, 11 January 2021, where a chainsaw, pick axe, garden tools and power tools were stolen (crime number 37/1659/21).

A residential garage door at a property on Mildenhall Road in Barton Mills was forced between 5pm, 2 January and 1pm, 3^rd January 2021 and a chain saw and strimmer were stolen (crime number 37/389/21).

A garden shed was broken into at a property on Bredfield Road in Woodbridge between 7am, Thursday 31 December 2020 and 11.30am, Friday 1st January 2021, where a chainsaw and strimmer were stolen (crime number 37/176/21).

On Flatford Road in East Bergholt between 11.30am to mid-day, Saturday 9 December 2020, the rear doors of a parked business vehicle were broken into and a chainsaw and leaf blower were stolen. (crime number: 37/71316/20).

Security marking your tools, will protect them against theft and assist the police to return your property to you if it is stolen and recovered. 

There are a number of ways of security marking your items, these include:

• Ultra violet (UV) or invisible marking - UV pens put an invisible mark on your property that can only be seen under UV light.
• Engraving or etching - Both methods are suitable for many hard surfaces and can be done using an electric engraving tool or hand engraver.
• Ceramic marking - Ceramic marking pens are designed to mark china, glass or glazed surfaces. They do not cut or scratch the surface but do leave a permanent mark.
• Forensic marking solutions - These are harmless solutions that contain a unique forensic code (like a fingerprint), making it easy to identify marked items. Firms that provide these marking solutions include: Smartwater – click here to go to smartwater.com. SelectaDNA – click here to go to selctadna.co.uk. Applied DNA Sciences - click here to go to adnas.com.

Further Police advice can be found by clicking here.

For all your crime prevention advice visit our website and look on the A– Z of Crime Prevention by clicking here.

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity or knows who was responsible should contact Suffolk police, quoting the relevant crime number.

Phone – Call 101 

Website – click here to go to the Suffolk Police website

Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or by clicking here to go to their online form

Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.