People living in Stonnall are getting a high-tech helping hand to beat burglars and thieves.
Residents from the village near Lichfield are being offered a chance to have their homes protected by SmartWater, a DNA style security system which can deter would-be criminals.
People are being invited to sign up to the scheme at a reduced cost of £15 which will enable them to mark their treasured possessions with the high-tech chemical solution.
In the event of a burglary, police will be able to link suspected offenders to any stolen property they recover.
Neighbourhood police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Neighbourhood Watch members and volunteers are calling at addresses in Stonnall to explain how the technology works and encourage people to take advantage of the offer.
Inspector Jed White, Lichfield and district local policing team commander, said:
“Research shows that areas where SmartWater has been introduced have seen dramatic reductions in the number of opportunist thefts and burglaries. Offenders quickly realise the chances of being caught are greatly increased because police are checking every item of stolen property recovered for any trace of SmartWater.
“Every suspect arrested is also screened for traces of the fluid on their clothes and their bodies which would link them to a theft. SmartWater has proved it can help us stay one step ahead of thieves and I would encourage residents in Stonnall to support the initiative which is aimed at keeping their neighbourhood safe. It is being offered at a greatly reduced cost of £15 which will be enough to mark up to 50 to 60 items.”
SmartWater works in two ways with a tracer that gives each address a unique DNA style profile. Householders paint a small amount of the clear SmartWater fluid onto property such as TVs, computers, game consoles and jewellery. It remains invisible and stays on the item forever. The other way is by spraying a fine mist onto an offender which remains on skin and clothing for months.
Staffordshire County Councillor Robert Marshall, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety, added:
“The SmartWater scheme is an excellent example of how we are working with partners to create safe and secure communities for our residents. We are well aware that being safe and, just as importantly, feeling safe is a top priority for people throughout the county. Often the fear of crime is every bit as bad, if not worse, than crime itself, but this fear can be overcome by taking steps to deter would-be criminals.
“SmartWater offers peace of mind and has already been successfully used in many places across Staffordshire. The word is getting out that these ‘SmartWater villages’ are fast becoming no-go areas for potential thieves. I thoroughly recommend that residents in Stonnall follow suit and sign up to the scheme.”
