A New crime reduction scheme involving traceable liquids is successfully deterring burglary from targeted properties in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
Wandsworth Borough Council has been offering SelectaDNA property marking kits to people living in Trevelyan Road, Brightwell Crescent, Himley Road and Longley Road. The initiative is part of the Graveney Burglary Reduction Project, with input from local Metropolitan Police and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators.
Since the introduction of the scheme in April, none of the houses that have used the kits to mark valuable household goods have been burgled.
SelectaDNA is an easy-to-apply traceable property marking liquid that consists of a unique, synthetic DNA code, hundreds of microdots, and a UV tracer. The SelectaDNA mark can be used to identify the registered owner of lost or stolen property.
The council is offering the kits that can mark household valuables including flatscreen TVs, laptops, iPads and mobile phones. Deterrent warning stickers are supplied with each kit and can be placed in a window or porch area to warn thieves that property is marked.
Adama Sulaiman of Wandsworth Council's Community Safety Division said: "Letters offering the kits have been sent out to all residents in four roads that have been targeted for the theft of portable electronic goods, in particular mobile phones and iPads. If a householder requests a kit, we make an appointment to visit them at home and show them how to mark their property correctly."
She continued: "Uptake has been good and none of the houses that have used the kits have been burgled. Not only is the product a deterrent, we have explained to people that they stand a much better chance of getting their marked items back if they are stolen and later recovered by police.
“Feedback from the residents is that they are impressed with how advanced the SelectaDNA technology is. The scheme is ongoing and we are really pleased with the results so far."
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