New technology in war on burglary
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
07/01/2009
New state-of-the-art technology has been embraced by the council and police as they continue to wage war on burglars.
A brand new security system called SmartWater is now being supplied to homeowners in certain parts of the borough as both agencies continue their zero tolerance approach to crime.
SmartWater, can be used to mark all sorts of household valuables from computers to jewellery. It is invisible to the eye and cannot be removed. The solution is simply painted onto the valuables and has within it a DNA-style forensic signature which will allow police to irrefutably prove the ownership of any item. When placed under an ultraviolet light any traces of the chemical liquid glows a bright green colour.
SmartWater can also be used as a spray device to forensically mark criminals, which will stay on skin and hair for weeks and is virtually impossible to remove from clothes. Once a criminal is marked, police can forensically link any offenders back to a specific crime, even long after an incident has taken place. This all spells bad news for any thieves operating in the area.
Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime and Street Scene said: “The message to crooks is that the council and police are serious about cutting burglary and will use every means possible to catch thieves. New technology provides us with new opportunities to apprehend criminals and we are happy to give the police the best tools available to cut crime.”
Police spokesman, Inspector Ruald Coleman said: “Once offenders see this forensic technology appearing more and more they will begin to think twice about committing crime. SmartWater could be anywhere, so my message to thieves is to think twice, as they run a greatly increased risk of being identified and arrested. If SmartWater is on you or any property that you steal, you might not know about it until you walk through our custody doors.”
Special ultraviolet light arches have been installed in Police custody suites across the area, and all prisoners and recovered stolen property will now be scanned to check for traces of the forensic solution.
