A NURSERY school in Burnley, Lancashire, is now protected by SelectaDNA following a spate of severely disruptive thefts.
Equipment at Rosegrove Nursery School has been marked with the forensic DNA after it was targeted five times in the last six months by thieves who made off with a scanner worth £400 and caused around £1,000 damage.
Local Neighbourhood Police Officers have installed SelectaDNA both inside and outside the building. The transferable DNA, which cannot be washed away, comes in a range of products including a special grease with its own unique code. This transfers to the skin, clothes, hair and shoes of an offender forensically linking them to the scene of a crime.
Crime Prevention Officer PC Phil Buck said: "Offenders have been so determined they have risked serious injury climbing the fences to enter the building. These thefts have not only caused stress to the staff, children and parents who use the school but significant damage has also been caused to gain entry.”
Nursery resources and staff have been stretched to the limit by the break-ins, according to Sarah Jones, acting headteacher at the nursery. Ms Jones said: “We hope that investing in this innovative product will deter any potential future intruders.”
As an added warning to burglars, deterrent warning signs have been erected on the perimeter fence of the nursery.
PCSO Charlotte Broadhurst who installed the SelectaDNA has a simple message for any would-be robbers: “If you break in again, we will catch you."
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