GWENT Police is urging people to get any new gifts they have bought or receive over Christmas registered free with the property logging website www.Immobilise.com

The crime prevention step will mean if new property given as festive presents are lost or stolen and later recovered they can be returned to the rightful owner, as well as potentially catching a criminal in possession of stolen goods.

Immobilise is the world's largest register of property where members of the public can log their valuables – anything from mobile phones, bikes, tools, electricals and gardening equipment. It's free to register and takes just a few minutes to sign up.

Ownership details can be viewed by police across the country on the National Mobile Property Register (NMPR), which allows officers to check a recovered item and instantly find the owner.

Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Jones commented: "Many people will have bought items like bikes, mobile phones, laptops, games consoles and computer tablets.

"Crime prevention is not something which will be at the forefront of people's minds over the Christmas period. But it's the ideal opportunity to register property while new items are still in the box and have all of the important details such as serial numbers on them.

To sign up to the free property register Immobilise visit: www.immobilise.com