Operation I.D. is one of a series of statewide programs coordinated by the New York State Office of Crime Prevention. Identification numbers for items are composed by using the issuing police department's National Crime Information Center alpha-numeric identifier, followed by a department-assigned sequence number. A two-part perforated card system is used. Part one of the card records the name and address of the participant and becomes the record for the police. Part two of the card is torn off when the engraver is loaned and is kept by the participant. Administering the program rests solely upon the law enforcement agency. Cards are available at any police station, along with the engravers to be loaned. A participant comes to the station, where a card is filled out and filed and an engraver loaned. The list of articles engraved remains with the owner. Participants are given a brochure explaining Operation I.D. when they enter the program. The issuing of warning stickers is the final part of a participant's role in the program. It is the reponsibility of each department to appoint a project officer, who is responsible for implementing the project in the community. Guidelines for starting a program in a community are presented, with attention to the program kickoff. Evaluation and program continuation are also discussed. Figures are included.