WCYT

SelectDNA beating the burglars

RESIDENTS on a new-build estate in south-east London are protecting their personal possessions from burglary by the use of SelectaDNA property marking.
The DNA marking kits are being offered to people moving into new apartments at Kidbrooke Village, by officers from Eltham Safer Neighbourhood Team, part of Greenwich Borough Police.
SelectaDNA comes in a kit containing a bottle of DNA solution that can be easily applied to any items of value. The unique DNA code in the solution links each item to an individual address, meaning that if an item is stolen and later found by police it can be traced directly back to the owner.
PC Richard Greef, who has been going door-to-door at Kidbrooke Village offering the kits to residents and demonstrating how they work, says the scheme is being introduced as a deterrent to burglary.
He said: “I have used SelectaDNA before in a previous crime prevention scheme and was impressed with how effective it was as a deterrent. Residents are marking valuable personal possessions such as TVs, phones, laptops and lawnmowers.”
The deterrent window stickers supplied with each kit are an important part of the marking process and they have been known to deter 8 out of 10 break-ins.
PC Greef said: “We are offering the kits to residents with the proviso that they use the window stickers. Neighbours will ask each other about SelectaDNA and the word will spread around the estate.”
Kidbrooke Village is a major housing development that will take 20 years to complete and will eventually house more than 4,000 residents. The estate is being built to house former residents of the nearby Ferrier Estate, which is set to be demolished.
The Ferrier Estate is currently unoccupied and the site is being guarded from metal theft by the use of another forensic marking product called SelectaDNA Grease, which can be painted onto lead roofs and copper piping.
The grease transfers to hands and clothing if someone attempts to steal the marked metal, and the invisible forensic markers in the grease show up under UV light and can link a thief back to the scene of the crime.
 
 
Using Grease To Cut Metal Theft
POLICE in Sunderland are using SelectaDNA Grease to give metal thieves the slip. Over the past few months there has been a rise in thefts and attempted thefts of metal across the city.
Officers have been carrying out a number of operations to target those responsible including working with scrap metal dealers and stopping vehicles being used to transport metal.
Police have also been using SelectaDNA Grease, a special product containing forensic markers which can be painted onto metal. Anyone touching it will be left with the grease on their hands and clothing, helping police to identify offenders as it links them directly to the crime scene.
Acting Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Jones said: "SelectaDNA is unique. Anyone who comes into contact with anything which has been coated in the grease will find it on their hands and clothing. It's impossible to remove, so when we find those who are responsible they can be linked to the theft."
Officers also want members of the community to report any suspicious activity, in particular, any scrap metal that has been left dumped somewhere or lying in someone’s garden, and are handing out leaflets urging the public to play their part in reducing the risk.
The officers are also recommending the use of SelectaDNA grease to local residents and businesses to protect lead roofs and copper piping. They have also been helping local churches to apply the product to their roofing following a spate of metal thefts from public buildings.
Acting Inspector Jones, added: “We’re continuing to work with scrap metal dealers to make sure they’re complying with the law when trading and are asking them to be extra vigilant as they can play a huge part in helping reduce the number of metal thefts by making it even more difficult for thieves to sell on their stolen goods.”
 
 
Safeguarding Northumberland’s Churches
POLICE are offering forensic marking product SelectaDNA to church wardens across Northumberland to help stop thieves targeting their buildings.
Crime Prevention Advisors from Northumbria Police together with officers from the local neighbourhood policing teams have been meeting with staff from nearby churches and offering them security advice and DNA forensic marking kits to help secure church premises.
Sandra Killeen, Northumberland Area Command, Crime Prevention Advisor said: "Churches are an important part of our communities and we are keen to work with them as closely as we can to ensure they are as safe and secure as possible.
"As well as advice, we have marked all metal piping and equipment with SelectaDNA – this gives it a unique reference number which is kept on a secure database.
“If the boiler and pipes are stolen it can be traced back to the individual church and instantly links the criminal to the crime scene.”
The Crime Prevention Team have recently been working with St John's Church in Bedlington, where they visited churchwarden Eve Bain and gave her practical advice on keeping the church safe.
Mrs Bain said: "By working with the police and implementing the crime prevention advice they give us we can to make it harder for criminals to break into the church or cause damage.
 “The forensic marking is a really good way of the police being able to identify any stolen property and safeguard our church against future crime.”