New home marking kits making property less attractive to thieves (From Swindon Advertiser)
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New home marking kits making property less attractive to thieves
11:50am Wednesday 15th July 2009 in News
STATE-of-the-art home security products are being introduced across the borough to tackle domestic burglary.
The Swindon Community Safety Partnership is issuing the latest forensic identification systems to residents to increase the chance of catching thieves.
Currently there are an average of 20 burglaries each week in the town, as more people go on their summer holidays and leave homes unoccupied.
The home security equipment includes Selecta DNA, which is a marking device used to identify stolen goods.
It is invisible to the naked eye but it contains a unique code that links thieves to crime scenes.
The code is contained in a glue-like paste and cannot be detected by a thief, but can be picked up by the police using a specially-designed ultraviolet torch.
Chief Inspector Mike Jones, of Swindon Police, said: “The best way to protect property is to make it less attractive to a thief by ensuring that you are easily identified as the owner.
“There are a number of ways for people to mark, register and protect their property.
“The simplest way is to use a UV marker pen to write the postcode and house number or name on property.”
Another device is the SmartWater marking system, also invisible to the thief but, police say, it links thieves to crime scenes.
Attached by householders to their property, the device sprays thieves with a substance that is difficult to remove and which can be detected at custody suites in Swindon.
The police say thousands of people from SN postcodes have already signed up to the free property register called Immobilise.
It’s a national register that has enabled the police to recover and return thousands of items of stolen property to their rightful owners.
Richard Palusinski, head of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “Effective property marking has reduced burglaries in other areas by up to 85 percent.
“Goods are less attractive to thieves if they can be easily identified.”
People can find out more about these products by visiting the Swindon Community Safety Partnership crime clinics, which are being held across the borough this week.
The roadshow will visit the Asda Wal-Mart store in West Swindon today and be in the Wood Street area of Old Town tomorrow between 5pm and 7pm.
The partnership will be near the Millennium Clock in the town centre on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The Safer Homes Week will also be the subject of radio debate.
Community radio station Swindon 105.5FM will be focusing on the issue during its weekday morning programme between 9am and 10am, with a programme on Drive at 5.40pm.
The community safety partnership’s burglary initiative will also be discussed on BBC Radio Wiltshire during their breakfast shows hosted by Chris Warburton between 6am and 9am each day. To register your property for the national Immobilise scheme, log on to www.immobilise.com
Comments(8)
swindonistani
says...
1:40pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Well I would like to say, what good is it to retrieve these stolen goods (likely damaged)?
Would it not be preferable to stop the burglaries from happening! ie: installing CCTV, increasing street lightening and police patrols
I do not have a problem with the private initiatives, I am quite capable securing my properties, so why then should I be paying the Swindon Police Authority for?
If they can't do the job, it is fair to get a refund, you would expect it from a shop so why can we claim back from our lovely cushy pensionhappy civil services?
Mr Blackwell
says...
4:07pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Or would that be too simple, you know, properly protecting the public from crime and actually ridding the streets of these vermin.
It's actually quite offensive how the authorities use our money to come up with these ineffective schemes as if you demonstrate they actually care about our safety and right not to be the victims of crime, while at the same time doing all they can to ensure the hardcore of repeat offenders who commit these crimes never see the inside of a prison.
Robh
says...
5:00pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Stacko75
says...
5:45pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Chowmai wrote:What a refreshing post. I totally echo these comments. It's a shame that not everyone else sees this as a positive intervention.
I've been lucky enough to have had one of these Selecta DNA, a good few months ago and they are a great piece of kit.
That said one way we can ALL help prevent burglaries/garage breakins and thefts from vehicles is to stop buying 'hooky' goods.
To often I overhear people discusssing a 'bargain' they got off a bloke in the pub or at a car bootsale.
Well the reality is that bargain was probably stolen and purchasing such goods is aiding thieves by giving them an outlet for the items they steal.
Doubtless there will be the usual comments berating the police and demanding that someone else should do something to reduce crime.
I do hope all those who do post are truly doing ALL they can to help in the fight against crime.
I Too
says...
5:56pm Thu 16 Jul 09
A cheaper, more effective deterrent might be to wire the doors, or certain appliances, up to the mains
bilzinuk
says...
5:31am Fri 17 Jul 09
I lived in the USA for 5 years and the Law regarding burglars (home invaders) there is very simple. The moment a felon crosses a homeowner's theshold, he loses ALL of his rights, and that in extreme circumstances can include the right to live. No charges of assault after hitting the poor wee man with a rolled up copy of the Adver, no allegations of brutality after your ferocious Yorkie has him by the nuts...just swift reaction from the cops, followed by a fair but slightly unsympathetic court hearing during which defence lawyers can spout all day about his client's "human rights". Thankfully, the rights of the victim count for much more over there than they apparently do here !
Mr Blackwell
says...
8:26am Fri 17 Jul 09
Make no mistake, from the police right through the our judges and prisons, the entire system that WE are forced to pay for is set-up and designed solely to be of benefit to criminals.
The government and justice system has absolutely zero interest in the victims of crime and the terrible scars that criminals leave them with for life.
Once a crime has been committed, everything is geared to assisting, helping and making life as easy as possible for the criminal.
After a serious crime we spend NOTHING on victims but £45,000 per year giving criminals a war cell, TV and three hot meals of their choice per day. Most of our prisoners have access to gyms, books of their choice, internet, sports facilities - all under one roof. We fund a lifestyle for them that many low income earners and pensioners can only dream of.
Crime pays - make no mistake.
Chowmai says...
1:20pm Wed 15 Jul 09
That said one way we can ALL help prevent burglaries/garage breakins and thefts from vehicles is to stop buying 'hooky' goods.
To often I overhear people discusssing a 'bargain' they got off a bloke in the pub or at a car bootsale.
Well the reality is that bargain was probably stolen and purchasing such goods is aiding thieves by giving them an outlet for the items they steal.
Doubtless there will be the usual comments berating the police and demanding that someone else should do something to reduce crime.
I do hope all those who do post are truly doing ALL they can to help in the fight against crime.