Sheriff’s Office New Program Tracks Stolen Property
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has announced a new program to help property owners track property theft in the county, by providing unique numbers to everyone who signs up for the free service. The program will issue an individual number for property owners to report stolen items, without worrying about tracking down serial numbers after a theft.
In a press release to The Messenger, HCSO Sheriff Randy Hargrove unveiled the details of the new program:
“For the last six-12 months, tHCSO has been receiving multiple burglary and theft reports. Items reported stolen were tractors, implements, trailers, 4-wheelers, vehicles, welding machines, fuel tanks and miscellaneous other items and tools.
HCSO Deputies began working these cases and developing leads. Their diligence and hard work ultimately led to the arrest of the individuals responsible for these thefts. They also spent several days and nights recovering approximately $250,000.00 worth of property. These deputies did an awesome job in recovering property stolen from our citizens.
At this time, they are attempting to connect this property with the cases reported and ultimately returning it to its rightful owner. One of the things that makes this difficult is that many property owners don’t have the serial numbers of their property recorded and in a safe place.
For this reason, HCSO has developed a new program called “The Owner Applied Number Program.” In the near future, you will begin to see flyers at various stores around the county. All you need to do is pick one up, fill it out and bring it to the sheriff’s office. There you will meet with one of our deputies to get your owner applied number and they will guide you on how to use your number.
Once a number is issued to you, you can put that number on any property you own, so if you ever become a victim of theft or burglary, you only have to remember one number to give to the responding deputy. Just one more way we are working hard for you in protecting you and your hard earned property.”
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
