DNA traceable liquids reduce burglary in London Boroughs

Crime reduction schemes involving SelectaDNA traceable liquids are successfully deterring burglary from targeted properties in major London Boroughs.

In Wandsworth, the local council has been offering SelectaDNA property marking kits to residents in specific roads that had been previously targeted for the theft of electronic goods. The initiative is part of the Graveney Burglary Reduction Project, with input from local Metropolitan Police and Neighbourhood Watch coordinators.

Since the introduction of the scheme in April 2014, 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.

Adama Sulaiman of Wandsworth Council's Community Safety Division said: "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.”

There have also been burglary reductions using DNA traceable liquids in the London Borough of Redbridge The initiative, which includes the use of SelectaDNA, has led to a decrease in residential burglary across the whole borough of 15.3 per cent from April 2013-March 2014.

Ed Baker from the Redbridge Safer Communities Partnership team, said: "Residents have been really appreciative of the additional security that SelectaDNA offers. Police also think it is very good for them as they have a physical product to use to reinforce their burglary campaign."