It would be a very simple matter to have serial numbers of valuable items placed on public record at the point of sale so that thieves and other crooked persons would be thwarted at any attempt to sell on any stolen items for financial gain.

Surely it would be better for everyone to remove the incentive of theft in the first place rather than to waste resources trying to catch the crooks afterwards.

As usual, logic takes second place over crime prevention.

Dave Cox, Corrimal

Merchant Navy Day falls on 3 September each year, the anniversary of the sinking of the first British merchant vessel in 1939 during the Second World War.

Australian service personnel and civilians have served on merchant vessels in times of war and conflict for more than a century, transporting service personnel, supplies and equipment across dangerous seas and oceans.

Merchant vessels were often defenceless and their work was perilous with the constant threat of attack from enemy submarines, surface raiders, aircraft and mines.

Earlier this year, Australia commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic, possibly the most well-known battle involving merchant mariners.

The battle lasted almost the entire duration of the Second World War and was fought over thousands of miles across the war’s most dangerous shipping lanes.

More than 3000 British and Allied ships were sunk and some 30,000 Allied and merchant mariners died during the Battle of Atlantic.

These were extraordinarily brave sailors, doing a job that had to be done under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

While the exact figure will never be known, the Australian War Memorial lists the names of more than 800 merchant mariners who have died in all wars on its Commemorative Roll.

Thank you for your service. Lest we forget.

Darren Chester MP,  Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Mr Steve Mancell  (Illawarra Mercury, September 3 2018)  mentioned that all the City Beach parking places are  full with cars every day.

The reason for this is that the nearby college uses all available parking on Flagstaff Hill and City Beach, as well as the Wollongong Harbour and Parks area.

The modern young ladies come to school with cars nowadays.

The College has limited parking  for staff only. I don’t know how this problem can be solved, but I know that all these P-Plate cars, have an affect on locals and tourist that want to have a swim on City beach and also  on people that like to have a meal around  the harbour front.

John Pronk, Wollongong