When any article of property alleged to be stolen comes into the custody of a law enforcement agency, that agency shall enter in a suitable book a description of that article and shall attach a number to each article, and make a corresponding entry thereof. The agency shall also make and retain a complete photographic record of the property. The photographic record, upon proper authentication, may be introduced as evidence in any court in lieu of the property.
N.J.S. § 2C:65-1