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Immobilise

Immobilise is a free service that allows users to record the details of as many of their possessions as they wish on a secure, offsite inventory. Immobilise is also the only ownership registration service supported by all the UK Police forces, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London and the Mobile Phone Industry. Launched in 2005 as a register for tackling mobile phone theft, it grew to include any item with a serial number.

This register is a system that allows the UK police to identify the owner of any registered item of property. In addition, the public can 'flag' any registered item as lost or stolen. The information is stored in the database utilised by Immobilise – the Mobile Equipment National Database (MEND) – and this can then be accessed by the police, Transport for London and other recovery agencies.

In addition to this, the system is also linked to CheckMEND – a system where second-hand buyers can check whether property is registered as stolen.

There are three simple steps to the service:

Register
Register bicycle model, make and frame number

Report
Report it if lost or stolen, both to the police and the register

Reunite
Registering and then reporting these details helps the police match the bike's description, if found, and return it.

It is the largest service of its type with over 20 million UK users, 25 million items registered, and over 30 million stolen items recorded.

Extra Services
In addition to the register, Immobilise sell a radio frequency identification device, 'ImmobiTag', that is specifically designed to fit inside the bike frame. The 'tag' contains a unique serial number, which is read by the Police using a portable scanner. The bike owner's details and status are then directly viewable on their systems. Immobilise also sell tamper resistant stickers which provide a visual deterrent.

Radio frequency identification device
‘ImmobiTag’, that is specifically designed to fit inside the bike frame. The ‘tag’ contains a unique serial number, which is read by the Police using a portable scanner. The bike owner’s details and status are then directly viewable on their systems.

Provider
Recipero Ltd.

Approximate Cost per Bike
It is free to register and it is free to record anything that has a serial number. Cyclists can register as many items as they wish. There is no charge for this service.

If you wish you can upgrade your account and add photos and certificates of ownership.
The cost of the upgrade is £3.99 a year. For this you can add unlimited items with 3 photos of each item.

The ‘ImmobiTag’ costs £13.99, this includes the tag, instructions and warning labels.

Strengths
• It is sanctioned by all the UK Police forces, and as such, can be utilised throughout the country via the NMPR stolen property database.
• Another asset of Immobilise is that its reach is pervasive because it enables a range of personal property to be registered, providing it is identifiable through a unique serial code
• There is no charge to register and use the service

Weaknesses
• This system does very little in protecting against component theft, where bikes are left ‘stripped’
• No visual deterrent is provided for within the free service although a partnership with Selectamark was envisaged and theft deterrent stickers are sold through the immobilise website
• Private investment and profit means its difficult for the Home Office to promote individual schemes. Yet to be most effective one efficient scheme (not many) is required

Useful References
www.immobilise.com
www.checkmend.org
www.thenmpr.com
www.selectamark.co.uk
www.immobilise.com
www.tfl.gov.uk
www.camcycle.org.uk