The Chief of Police is authorized and directed to assign a distinguishing number or identification mark and affix said number or mark to any item, from which the manufacturer’s name plate, serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered or destroyed, so that said article may be properly and legally returned to the possession of the person legitimately entitled to the ownership and possession thereof. (Ord. 3455 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1193 § 1; prior code § 2.10.2).