Scheme to protect rural dwellers' valuables in Cork, Kerry, and Limerick from theft 

Muintir na Tíre pilot scheme to use laser technology to etch driving licence numbers onto owners' valuables

Gardaí at checkpoints will be able to scan suspected stolen property using their onboard patrol car systems and the driving licence numbers which have been "lasered onto" valuable items. File picture

"A gamechanger" free pilot scheme is being rolled out in three Munster counties which will allow gardaí to identify stolen property such as mobile phones, laptops and even combine harvesters.

The scheme is the result of a collaboration between Muintir na Tíre and a private security company and uses laser technology to etch owners' driving licence numbers onto their valuables.

Unlike other marking systems currently in use, Muintir na Tíre says criminals will be unable to easily spot these laser identifiers because they can be burnt onto even delicate equipment, such as mobile phones, so they are almost invisible to the naked eye.

However, gardaí at checkpoints will be able to scan suspected stolen property using their onboard patrol car systems and the driving licence numbers which have been "lasered onto" valuable items.

Driving licence numbers are unique to each individual motorist and they provide the authorities with the owner’s name and address, so they can identify the item's real owner.

Muintir na Tíre has received sponsorship from Synergy Security for one laser marking machine, with the promise of more equipment if the pilot scheme is successful and then rolled out countrywide.

Southern region Muintir na Tíre community alert officer Diarmuid Cronin will use cutting-edge equipment to brand valuable items belonging to members of Muintir na Tíre’s Community Alert and BeAlert Garda text groups in Cork, Limerick, and Kerry initially.

Mr Cronin, who has received extensive training to use the equipment, said it was highly specialised, and that depending on requirements, it can be adjusted to make the number almost invisible.

“The settings can be done to finer things like laptops, phones etc as well. I have used it on a range of my own stuff to build up my experience. The new technology will be free and I will be travelling to community alert groups, who will set up marking sessions,” he said.

He said the key to its success will be the owner’s unique driving licence serial number, which can only be accessed by the authorities, and which can be instantaneously done by most gardaí at checkpoints if they suspect an item has been stolen

The scheme is the latest attempt by Muintir na Tíre in its efforts to reduce property theft from rural dwellers. In 2016, it introduced a ‘Property Log Book’ to encourage the systematic recording of serial numbers.

This evolved in 2019 to a scheme whereby members of text alert groups could automatically upload to the cloud photos and details of property items using the Cairde smartphone application.

“Realising that many valuable items do not have a serial number, Muintir na Tíre has raised the bar using a unique system to identify people’s property. Ownership of a Muintir na Tire branded item can be quickly determined at a roadside checkpoint or property search, which is yet another deterrent to criminals,” Mr Cronin said.

"Community Alert groups will be intensifying efforts encouraging owners to use either their own outstanding Cairde application or indeed the Garda Property Smartphone application to systematically record all items of property, including items branded with the new laser device,” Mr Cronin said.