Asset issued to an employee - What precautions can i take to protect my company's laptop?

An employee has been provided a laptop. He is assigned to work from home from raipur, chatisgarh. We have our operations at bhubaneswar, odisha. Can anyone suggest me how to ensure that i do not get into problems by issuing him a laptop. What precautions can i take to protect my company's laptop.

Hi Balaji,
I am assuming that the employee is working with your firm from longer time and trust worthy.
If you are issuing a laptop ask him to sign on the form which has all the details of company assets issued to him. Please make sure his signature is similar to the other document which he has submitted by him.

Dear Monica,
The person is 2 months old in the company. However he is into marketing software products. He needs a laptop badly. Getting a form signed, or getting his address verified is a temporary solution. I am more worried what happens if he is absconding tomorrow and changes his residence. How to track him then. Moreover documentation even on a stamp paper is only effective we will be able to trace him.
Please suggest.

Dear Balaji / Santosh,
I am looking towards transaction in accounts views. It is regular practice of Administration and Accounts Department to keep the DSR or Assets Register.
The computer / lap top / printer is Asset Item and it has to be depreciated by 60% p.a. All the establishment has to keep the Register called Asset Register. You can tell your Marketing Executive to submit the letter mentioning therein that he is having the custody of LAPTOP (Make - Sr. No:, Dongle drive Sr.No. if any installed on it). This letter you will have to produce to your Auditors during the process.
This letter will be precaution as well as official document to show the same as Fixed Assets in the Balance Sheet.
Ramakant

Hi Balaji,
Working from home produces its own challenges.
One of them is how you are sure the employee is actually working?
There is software available which will "track" the laptop, it will also show you when the laptop is started up and shutdown, as well as downloading all its activity to your main server. You should have this installed, the software is widely available on the net.
I hope the above helps.
Regards,
Harsh