stolen tools !

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Son in law lost several grands worth but despite police finding them he cannot reclaim without court case and proof (receipts not accepted as proof).
He was told it would take around 8 months to get to court , so pointless excersize .
 
The only proof they should need is them being reported stolen.
 
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Require unique identitfying characteristics. He never marked any of his tools so no proof they are his .

The owners finger prints should be all over the goods. Small particles of skin.
dna evidence.
If the tools were insured and the insurers paid out, that should be enough evidence also.
My work mate lost 8k's worth of tools recently in a raid and he had no proof of what he owned.
He made a list and his insurers paid out. The police were the first to receive the list.
It was never questioned. He was deeply traumatized by the event.
 
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No fingerprints or dna taken , not considered worth it by police.Would be many finger prints on tools as they were used on a site.
No consistency of evidence collection.
 
Require unique identitfying characteristics. He never marked any of his tools so no proof they are his .
Asking mainly because I'm slowly increasing my tool collection and if the unthinkable happens, I'd prefer to be prepared.
 
He was told it would take around 8 months to get to court , so pointless excersize .
the procedure in my area is to provide the crime number,take ID sign a release statement then take them away,unless of course the tools are being held as evidence for a future court case.

got son's bike back a few weeks ago (y)
 
Asking mainly because I'm slowly increasing my tool collection and if the unthinkable happens, I'd prefer to be prepared.
I write my initials in the battery recess where it’s very difficult to notice or remove.( on battery powered tools).You can get near invisible micro dots with reference numbers on them registered to you postcode, comes in a liquid that can be dabbed on tool anywhere and visible under UV light which police claim they check stolen goods with .
 
I keep everything at the end of my bed or under the stairs in proper site boxes, not bean tin van vaults. I certainly don't leave anything in the van anymore and very rarely on site, only if I have a mobile mini with a site box inside or I'm on a big enough site that my site boxes would be hard to find. They've had me and the old man before so I'm extra vigilant.
 
If the tools were insured and the insurers paid out, that should be enough evidence also.
If the insurers paid out then its no longer the victim's tools but the insurers if they are ever recovered.

That aside, all that validates is that the insurer decided that the items were stolen, it doesnt validate that the particular items the police have recovered are theirs... imagine the outcry if police decided if there was an insured and uninsured victim who'd both lost the same model of chopsaw that they'd be default give it to the insurance company as the fact they put their hand in their pocket is better evidence than the receipt the uninsured victim had.
 
I tape a 2d bar code with name+postcode on stuff, it can be very small and they are easily generated and often missed by thieves.
 

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