A new website service has been launched to help combat property crime in New Zealand.

Stole Me allows people who have lost or had property stolen to list their property on the website, including photographs of the item. People buying items can check whether they are lost or stolen before they make a purchase.

The website also provides the owner of the lost or stolen property the chance to take some action to help in the recovery of the item.

Stole Me aligns with the police-introduced Serial Number Asset Partnership known as SNAP, where people can create and store an asset list of property serial numbers for free. This means a stolen item with a serial number can be accessed on SNAP to ascertain whether the item being purchased is in fact stolen. It also provides the police the opportunity to return stolen property to its rightful owner when it is recovered.

Stole Me is supported by Crimestoppers, an independent organisation dedicated to providing an anonymous means for people to give information on crime. The new website has been also given the thumbs up by the insurance industry.

Stole Me fits in with other police online databases like the stolen vehicle database police.govt.nz/stolen/vehicles launched earlier this year, and the stolen boat database police.govt.nz/service/maritime/stolen.

Membership of Stole Me is free.

Visit stoleme.co.nz.

- Waiheke Marketplace