A slight increase in thefts this time of year leads police to put out a word of warning to business owners, or anyone who owns power tools. Law enforcement agents have noticed a slight increase in the theft of power tools, ranging from hand drills and saws to welders and plasma cutters. Sgt. Arlyne Page of the Osage Beach Police Department says expensive power tools that can be easily carried away should be photographed, and their serial numbers should be written down and stored in a safe place. "We've asked people to conduct an inventory and to mark their items, and we don't care if it's a socket wrench or a power saw--they need to mark them, they need to log them; these items are so easily available and they seem to grow legs quite often," Page said. Law enforcement agents believe that the increase in theft can be tied to a tough economy and high fuel costs. Page says thieves will look for items that are easy to pawn. "They are easily sold for either drugs or to have gas money right now, they can take them to St. Louis or Kansas City in the back of a truck and sell them for that matter," Page said. The national average for the recovery and return of stolen items is approximately 15 percent. In Camden County, the average is slightly higher. The Camden County Sheriff's Department also recommends the photographing and documentation of firearms, jewelry, and other small valuables.