Burglary has been an increasing focus for police in the London Borough of Redbridge, following a successful council-funded initiative to support previous victims of the crime and their neighbours with SelectaDNA's traceable liquid marking kits.
The initiative, which includes the use of SelectaDNA, has led to a decrease in residential burglary across the whole borough of 15.3 per cent from April 2013-March 2014. These are early figures (due to be updated) from the Redbridge Safer Communities Partnership, which is made up of the council, police and other emergency service members and organisations.
Regular operations to catch burglars have also been carried out which has led to a number of arrests and a reduction in repeat burglary.
The SelectaDNA kit helps track property if it is stolen by providing a unique DNA-based traceable liquid marking that can be easily applied to household valuables. If these items are later stolen and recovered, the DNA marking can assist police in identifying the real owner.
Distribution of the kits is being undertaken by local policing teams, who inform residents how to use the kits and assist with completing the registration forms that allow for the unique reference number assigned to each kit to be linked with a specific household. The kit comes with a sticker to put in a window to help deter potential burglars.
The marking of recovered property also assists in the prosecution of offenders. To this end, the SelectaDNA brand is being widely advertised in Ilford custody suite and Barkingside police station and is known to probation offices across the borough. This sends the message to burglars that the product is promoted and used in Redbridge by its residents.
Ed Baker from the Redbridge Safer Communities Partnership team, said: "The kits have so far been introduced to targeted streets across 11 of the 21 wards in Redbridge. There has been a reduction in repeat burglary and a 'cocooning project' involving police visiting previous victims of burglary and their neighbours aims to increase this further and is now borough-wide."
He added: "Residents have been really appreciative of the additional security that SelectaDNA offers. Police also think it is very good for them as they have a physical product to use to reinforce their burglary campaign."
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