[Ryan MacDonald]

This is something similar that we have used (in the past).? Presently, I don’t have anyone actively running the program, but out database remains.

STOP Theft home page | Security Tracking of Office Property

Stoptheft		remove preview
STOP Theft home page | Security Tracking of Office Property Proven theft deterrence and recovery for laptops and other mobile devices. Comprehensive yet simple and cost-effective approach to asset management and protection, scalable from single-user to enterprises. View this on Stoptheft >

——————————
Ryan MacDonald
Assistant Director, Operations
University of Ottawa
Ottawa ON
Canada
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 06-04-2025 08:59
From: Dragan Spasojevic
Subject: Operation Provident (Identification)

Hello everyone, a number of years ago we worked with our local police department and were provided with an Operation Provident number for our institution. The number we were provided was OP5 165 446. This was an institutional identifier. We purchased branding irons with this identifier and we purchased engraving pens. We advertised this program to our community and they called and wanted equipment branded or engraved with this number. I believe that this program was North America wide, so if some of our property was stolen it could be identified by a local police agency who would call Toronto Police and they would contact us. Whenever our IT department ordered new computers, they would call us to brand or engrave the computers, we would they place stickers on offices that had the equipment, that the equipment was protected by “Operation Provident”, the theft of computers disappeared as the persons with bad intentions couldn’t sell them anywhere. Our science department asked us to label expensive microscopes and other equipment. The program was very successful, however like a lot of good things, as those folks in the policing world, who knew about the program retired, no one took over the program. I have asked around those agencies who we dealt with in Toronto and the Provincial Police and no one seems to know anything about the program, event those they gave us the institutional identifying number. Either my staff or IT staff would engrave the property and document the property and serial number on a spread sheet that we would maintain for record keeping in case something was stolen and or recovered, we would know who it belonged to. I have spoken to some people who advise that as an individual you can still identify your property by engraving your drivers license number on your property. This may work for individuals but I am looking for an institutional response.

My question to the IACLEA group is:

Are there any folks around, long term, like myself who remember this program?

Are there any institutions still using this program?

Is there interest in the IACLEA organization to begin or continue this program?

Any and all responses would be much appreciated. Take care and have a great day.

Best,

Dragan

——————————
[Dragan] [Spasojevic]
[Manager, Community Safety & Strategic Partnerships]
[York University]
Toronto ON
CanadaManager – Community Relations & Crime Prevention
——————————

[Cathy O'Donnell]

Hey Dragon – yes I do remember this Operation Provident program and McMaster embraced it in the? ate 90’s but I then I believe the larger program was disbanded.? As it is more of a policing imitative for them to identify stolen property, I don’t feel it is something that would be effective at just a post-secondary level.

——————————
Cathy O’Donnell
Director
Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Sciences
Hamilton ON
Canada
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 06-04-2025 08:59
From: Dragan Spasojevic
Subject: Operation Provident (Identification)

Hello everyone, a number of years ago we worked with our local police department and were provided with an Operation Provident number for our institution. The number we were provided was OP5 165 446. This was an institutional identifier. We purchased branding irons with this identifier and we purchased engraving pens. We advertised this program to our community and they called and wanted equipment branded or engraved with this number. I believe that this program was North America wide, so if some of our property was stolen it could be identified by a local police agency who would call Toronto Police and they would contact us. Whenever our IT department ordered new computers, they would call us to brand or engrave the computers, we would they place stickers on offices that had the equipment, that the equipment was protected by “Operation Provident”, the theft of computers disappeared as the persons with bad intentions couldn’t sell them anywhere. Our science department asked us to label expensive microscopes and other equipment. The program was very successful, however like a lot of good things, as those folks in the policing world, who knew about the program retired, no one took over the program. I have asked around those agencies who we dealt with in Toronto and the Provincial Police and no one seems to know anything about the program, event those they gave us the institutional identifying number. Either my staff or IT staff would engrave the property and document the property and serial number on a spread sheet that we would maintain for record keeping in case something was stolen and or recovered, we would know who it belonged to. I have spoken to some people who advise that as an individual you can still identify your property by engraving your drivers license number on your property. This may work for individuals but I am looking for an institutional response.

My question to the IACLEA group is:

Are there any folks around, long term, like myself who remember this program?

Are there any institutions still using this program?

Is there interest in the IACLEA organization to begin or continue this program?

Any and all responses would be much appreciated. Take care and have a great day.

Best,

Dragan

——————————
[Dragan] [Spasojevic]
[Manager, Community Safety & Strategic Partnerships]
[York University]
Toronto ON
CanadaManager – Community Relations & Crime Prevention
——————————