Bumblebee Imaging System

The Metropolitan Police are introducing a new scheme in an effort to easily identify the owners of stolen property.

Every year property is recovered which the police have no way of knowing who the owners are.

The Bumblebee Imagining System has been introduced to overcome some of these problems.

It is now possible for people to photograph any valuables or items of sentimental value and pass the photographs to the Police if the items are ever stolen. They will then include the items on their computer system and try to match them against stolen property recovered.

Photographs of televisions, video recorders and music systems that are mass-produced are not stored but the serial and model numbers will be kept by the Police.

You can either take photos or if preferred video the items. When having the photos developed you do not need to give your address to the photo developer, only a way of identifying that the film when developed is yours.

Keep the photographs and negatives in a separate place. They can also help you in any future insurance claim.

The Metropolitan Police have issued a useful leaflet on this scheme giving tips on how to photograph the items. This includes putting a ruler against the item to give an idea of size, photographing large items from different angles, having a clear background, how to avoid reflections, photographing serial numbers, photographing any unusual or repair marks.

A leaflet giving fuller information is available from local Police Stations.