Thirty-some years ago someone came up with a good idea. It was called Operation Identification. If that sounds familiar it's because it's still in use today. A national program, all law enforcement agencies were urged to join and promote it locally.
The idea was you engraved a number on valuables that would be likely targets for thieves. The number would be registered with the local police. Then, when the thief tried to pawn the item, or sell it on the street, the prospective buyer, seeing that it was identifiable, would be reluctant to purchase same. And if the thief got caught with the item, there'd be some heavy-duty splainin' to do.
Folks who wanted to participate were loaned an electric engraver, shown how to use it, and instructed to scratch the number on the property to be protected. Today, the number is usually a two-letter designator for the state, then their driver's license number. When their property has been marked and the their personal number registered with the police, they are given stickers to put on their home to warn thieves they should look elsewhere.
The program was very successful. In little 'ol Naples hundreds of citizens participated in the program and branded their goods. Trouble was, the number we prompted them to use back then is the number they are warned to never give public exposure today. That's right, their Social Security number.
Back then, it was a logical number to use. Highly individual, no two the same. Best of all, the scams that are dominate today had yet to be developed. Fortunately, most of the gear marked with the SS number is no longer in use.
Just a reflection on how times change. And not always in the right direction.
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