Marking bills is a technique used by
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest a ...
to trace and identify money used in
illegal activities. The serial numbers of the bills are recorded, and sometimes markings are made on the bank notes themselves (such as with a highlighter or other writing).
Non-law enforcement uses of marking bills may be as simple as distinctive text on the bank notes, or recording serial numbers in the event of a
robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the perso ...
.
References
Law enforcement techniques
{{law-enforcement-stub