Marking events are taking place to help people protect their expensive Christmas gifts.

Hertfordshire Constabulary are holding two security marking events at Abbots Langley police station on January 21 and 27 between 9am and 12pm to help residents protect their property from thieves.

PCSO Paul Cook, from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "If you’ve received expensive gifts for Christmas, it makes sense to keep them as secure as possible.

"Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in tool thefts across Hertfordshire this year. Engraving tools makes them less attractive to thieves as they are harder to sell on. It also means that, should they ever be lost or stolen and subsequently recovered, they can be reunited with their rightful owners more easily.

"The same goes for bicycles; every year we recover dozens of bikes and have no way of telling who they belong to. Security marking them is a simple solution and takes just minutes."

Police also suggest people ensure to lock their bike on something solid like a bike rack or railings, and to never leave it unattended without locking it up with a quality lock, the best of which is a steel D-shaped shackle lock.