Local police departments offer new online tool to track, recover your stolen stuff

Burglars have a new online enemy thanks to some tech-savvy Renton cops.

Trackmole.com lets people create a free online account and register the serial numbers of their property. If something gets lost or stolen, law enforcement can better track the property through the database and significantly increase the chances of recovering their property.

“I am very excited to partner with the cities and TrackMole to offer this free and easy-to-use online system that will benefit residents, businesses and police departments,” said Renton Mayor Denis Law.

The creators say it takes less than an hour to register the contents of an entire household, and significantly increase the chances of retrieving lost or stolen property if it is located by police, a business, or someone who turns it in. The program is free and available to all.

“This is another tool that we will have to better serve our residents and victims of crime in recovering lost or stolen property,” said Mayor Law. “It should also result in more arrests.”

The system will be used initially by the cities of Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Renton and Tukwila.

“This is just one more example of the progressive and innovative way in which we are using the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods to serve residents in the most efficient way possible,” said Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus.

Estimates show less than 5 percent of owners record the serial numbers of their property, which is the main identifier police use to locate and return lost, stolen, and left-behind property to the rightful owner, Law said.