Gardaí launch a new app to ‘index’ all your personal effects in case of theft

A totally normal app, we... think?

Tracking every single material item that you own? There's now an app for that. An Garda Síochána has launched a new mobile app designed to allow the public to "index and record their personal property" including bicycles, laptops, and farm machinery. Gardaí announced the app at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday (20 September). The new app will let users take photographs, record receipts and store registration codes, and photograph markings left on property. This information is stored locally on your device, or backed up on a Google Drive account. gardaí app

None of the data is stored by An Garda Síochána. If an item from the list is stolen, app users can report the theft directly to An Garda Síochána if the value of the item is less than €1,000. Investigating Gardaí will have access to the information, which would assist in the investigation surrounding the property. Gardaí encourage the public to clearly and obviously mark their property, as doing so makes the items "less attractive to a thief as it is more difficult to sell on". Just be careful not to lose your phone or get your Google account hacked, or else potential thieves would have an itemised list of everything valuable you own. The app is completely standalone, and free to download on the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.

This article originally appeared on Joe.ie. Header image via Shutterstock READ ON: Social Protection Minister to seek approval for the pension age to stay at 66