Keeping Your Property Safe

• Marking you Personal Property Clearly
• How to Make up your Personal Code
• Tips for Ensuring Vehicle Security

• Whilst staying at any accommodation, secure your property.
• Always lock the door.
• Ask about using security facilities provided by the establishment to store passports and other important items.
• Make it difficult for bag-snatching thieves by using a money belt.
• Keep large amounts of cash and cheques separate.
• Remember not to take all your money and valuables with you if you are partying or day trekking.
• Try not to advertise that you have purchased something from duty free outlets, place duty free bags out of sight.
• Leave valuables in a secure location when going to the beach or pool.
• Carry your shoulder bag at the front of your body.
• Mark your property (see below).

Marking your personal property clearly

Unmarked items that are most at risk of theft or loss include cameras, binoculars, clothing, wallets, sporting goods, music, camping equipment, bicycles, and bags.

If you don't already have your belongings marked for identification, and wish to clearly mark them, the Queensland Police Service recommends using the Property Identification System. Marking your property using this system deters people from stealing it and helps the police return recovered property to its owners.

The Property Identification System involves marking property with an electric engraving tool. The engraving is personalised in your own code so that police anywhere in Australia can identify your property, and arrange to return it to you.

How to make up your personal code:

Use the first initial of your first name, the first initial of your family name, your date of birth (day/month/year), and the letter Q to signify Queensland.

For example:

• Keith James NARRACOTT
• Date of Birth: 18-06-1975
• His personal code is -
• KN180675Q

Your personal code can be used to mark all of your belongings. You may be able to borrow a police engraver by enquiring at the nearest police station in Queensland during business hours (8am to 4pm). We recommend that where possible, you place your identification number on the back of the item in the top right hand corner.

Your personal property code details should then be provided to police so it can be computer recorded at the nearest police station.

Unless your property can be effectively marked, photographs should be taken of items such as jewellery, watches or sunglasses.

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TourSafe Tip: For brochures and information on a range of property security strategies visit the Property Safety section on the Queensland Police Service web site

Tips for ensuring vehicle security

• Lock your unattended car properly.
• If you need to leave your valuables in the car, make sure they are out of sight or lock them in the boot (trunk) or glove compartment. Even a pile of loose change may be enough to entice an offender to break into your car.
• Find out how to immobilise (and re-mobilise) your car's engine in case you need to leave your vehicle for a long period of time.