Shops were today backing a battle to crack mobile phone crime in Southend.

Six outlets in Southend have agreed to mark mobile phones with the owner's postcode using a permanent ultra-violet marker pen, free of charge.

Get it marked - PC Anthony Brackett and Pete Sterry, manager of O2 mark a phone with a UV pen Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

They include Phones 4 U, O2, Vodafone, the Link, T Mobile and Carphone Warehouse.

Members of the public are also invited to approach borough patrol officers and police town beat officers in the High Street, who will also be happy to mark their phones for them.

Southend police officers carry ultraviolet lights which they use to check items of property handed in or found during stop checks. This enables them to see if they are postcoded.

Published Friday, May 30, 2003

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