03 April 2012
Caerphilly County Borough Council equipment and homes have been marked with an invisible fluid that allows police to trace stolen goods.
SmartWater uses unique forensic coding systems in a liquid form which can be used to individually identify property, and research has proven SmartWater to be a more powerful deterrent than traditional deterrents such as CCTV, burglar alarms, security guards and even high visibility police patrols.
Over recent months, Caerphilly County Borough Council has seen a dramatic increase in the number of thefts from its homes which include central heating systems and copper piping.
SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove from metal and will even withstand burning. Because any metal marked with can be irrefutably identified by police it makes it much harder for thieves to sell on once stolen, and greatly increases their chances of detection and arrest. It can also be used to mark personal property such as jewellery, ornaments, electrical items and even cars.
Shaun Couzens, Chief Housing Officer at Caerphilly County Borough Council said, ""This technology means that we are able to send out a clear message to thieves that they are running a very high risk of being caught and convicted for their crimes. By clearly signposting our homes as SmartWater marked we will be able to deter thieves, and reduce crime across the borough."
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