Asset protection
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Write down or photograph your bicycle's serial number.
It helps police identify and potentially return a stolen bike; one person recovered their bike after two years using this method.
- Police may not actively search for stolen bicycles.
4 people, independently
- Photograph the unique frame number on your bicycle to help police prove it was stolen and return it to you.1
Register your bicycle with a national registry or local authorities to create a record of ownership.
Police may use the information to track stolen products, and it provides proof if you find the bike later.
- Some registries have been accidentally erased by operators.
- Local police may not actively investigate thefts.
5 people, independently
Take photos of serial numbers on valuable electronics and email them to yourself or store them in a cloud account to keep an offsite record.
To ensure records remain accessible if the house burns down or is compromised.
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Take front and back photos of important documents in case they are lost or destroyed.
So you have them if you don't have the originals on you or if they are destroyed or lost.
one person who lived it
Pay for expensive items with a credit card to use bank statements as proof of purchase.
Bank statements serve as proof of purchase.
one person who lived it
Take a photo of the receipt placed next to the item's serial number.
This provides strong protection against theft claims.
one person who lived it
Track serial numbers for laptops and phones to prove ownership if they are stolen.
It helps law enforcement identify your device if someone tries to sell it.
one person who lived it
- Write down the serial numbers of all your electronics.1
Complete manufacturer product registration forms and scan/upload them before mailing to support warranty claims if receipts are lost.
It assists with warranty claims after losing the receipt.
- It may invite junk mail.
one person who lived it
Post your bicycle's serial number on a public website so Google indexes it, increasing the chance someone searches for it before resale.
Google already knows about the bike, so if it is stolen, someone might search for the serial number before it is resold.
one person who lived it
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Retain proprietary charging cables as evidence of ownership during break-in investigations.
Investigators may ask for these items as proof since thieves usually do not take them.
- Applies specifically to break-ins where video or pictures are unavailable.
one person who lived it
Set your home address in portable GPS devices to help prove ownership if they are stolen.
A device showing your address as 'home' provides compelling evidence of ownership without needing a serial number.
one person who lived it
File a police report for stolen items to officially mark them as stolen, which increases the likelihood of recovery if sold to reputable businesses.
Officially marking items as stolen helps identify them if they appear in pawn shops or reputable stores.
- Some individuals report that police efforts rarely result in finding stolen goods.
one person who lived it
Record a video walkthrough of your home every six months to itemize possessions for insurance claims.
Itemizing from memory causes you to miss items; video provides detailed proof against insurers trying to offer the cheapest replacement.
one person who lived it
Record your phone's IMEI or serial number separately from the device.
Police may be unable to return recovered phones without this information.
one person who lived it
Scan or photograph receipts rather than relying solely on physical copies.
Thermal paper receipts fade and turn invisible quickly, sometimes within two years.
2 people, independently
Keep track of account information for gaming consoles to prove ownership without a serial number.
Account details serve as proof of ownership when serial numbers are unavailable.
one person who lived it
Upload inventory photos to internet-based storage to protect against fire destruction.
Cloud storage protects records from local disasters like fires, facilitating insurance recovery.
one person who lived it
Keep physical receipts for expensive items alongside recorded serial numbers.
The receipt helps prove ownership while the serial number helps police locate the item.
one person who lived it
Record serial numbers for weapons to reduce liability if they are stolen, sold illegally, and used in crimes traced back to the original owner.
Unrecorded weapons stolen and used in violent crimes may be traced back to the owner, creating legal risk.
one person who lived it
Keep physical boxes for electronics and valuables to serve as proof of purchase and condition for insurance claims.
Physical boxes allow claims to be processed without hesitation after theft.
one person who lived it
Record MAC addresses alongside serial numbers for networked electronics, as this may aid in tracking stolen items connected to the internet.
Serial numbers alone may be insufficient for manufacturers to track stolen devices; MAC addresses can help identify items when they connect to the internet.
2 people, independently
Consider earthquake and flood insurance based on your location and specific risks.
Standard policies may not cover events like power surges damaging electronics or water damage from leaky fish tanks; some states offer expensive earthquake programs.
one person who lived it
Keep original boxes for devices to preserve printed serial numbers and information.
Boxes contain necessary details for police reports and can help resale value.
4 people, independently
Register serialized products with the manufacturer to create a paper trail linking the serial number to you.
You typically receive an email confirmation or the ability to have the manufacturer confirm the serial number.
one person who lived it
Do not use serial numbers from other people's items to replace damaged ones, as this constitutes insurance fraud.
Using registered or repaired serial numbers creates strong evidence for prosecutors.
one person who lived it
Use a barcode scanner app to capture serial numbers from barcodes for inventory management.
one person used this to keep solid inventories
one person who lived it