POLICE Country Watch officers are urging rural communities to Paint it Pink as part of a crackdown on battery thefts across the Isle of Wight.

Batteries can be a popular choice for thieves, who steal them and then sell them at scrapyards for their lead content.

Battery theft costs owners hundreds of pounds and, in some cases, this type of crime is a risk to livestock escaping.

Thieves find and steal batteries from barns, outhouses, yards and fields.

Batteries are often stolen from electric fences, temporary traffic lights, vehicles and caravans.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101 or email: countrywatch@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Ensure thieves don’t want your batteries by painting them pink to make them unmissable!

Marking them in this way deters thieves from stealing them as there’s a better chance of detection.

You can do this by using your postcode followed by your house number or the first two letters of the name of your house, building or farm.

Here are some examples:

Isle of Wight County Press: Here are some useful labelling tips for your batteries:

  • You can use a stencil kit or just paint your unique postcode free-hand onto your battery.
  • Use oil or enamel-based paint (preferably neon or fluorescent).
  • It is also advisable to paint any contours of the battery, for example the edges, where there are often welds and screws. This makes it more difficult for paint to be removed.

Country Watch officers are visiting scrapyards and recycling centres, advising staff not to accept pink or marked batteries without confirmed identification.