SmartWater protection

21 September 2010, 14:05 | Updated: 21 September 2010, 16:48

Residents at more than 2,000 homes in Oldbrook in Milton Keynes are being offered the chance to mark their property with a crime fighting tool called SmartWater.

SmartWater's a clear liquid which contains a unique forensic marker. It goes on valuables like TVs, laptops, DVD players and games consoles and leaves a virtually invisible mark which is difficult to remove. If an item which has been stolen is later found, it can be scanned using ultra violet light and traced back to the owner.

Click here to see a video of how it can leave a mark on criminals.

In Oldbrook teams of police volunteers, PCSOs, community wardens and volunteers from Trading Standards are visiting every property to offer them SmartWater. The initiative is being supported and part funded by Campbell Park Parish Council.

Crime Prevention Advisor for Thames Valley Police in Milton Keynes, Ed Allington, said: “This initiative will make Oldbrook the very first SmartWater estate in Milton Keynes. Since April, Oldbrook has experienced the second highest number of burglaries in the city and this, along with its size, made it the perfect estate to carry out this pilot.  

“Each house will be offered SmartWater for free as part of the initiative and 60 street signs will be put up across the estate to act as a deterrent to any potential burglars.

“In other parts of the country where property marking like this has been used on a large scale, they have seen impressive reductions in the number of burglaries committed. It has also helped many people get stolen property back and helped convict the offenders. We hope to see similar result in Oldbrook.”