A revolutionary, high tech scheme to protect residents and trap burglars is being launched by Richmond upon Thames Community Safety Partnership (CSP) A DNA based product called SelectaDNA will be used to mark property.
The substance, which is virtually invisible, remains on marked items of personal property for up to 30 years. Even if it is spotted it is almost impossible to remove completely ensuring that once marked an item can almost always be identified and returned to its rightful owner.
Later this month police will begin distributing kits of the synthetic product to recent victims of domestic burglary. In the longer term the plan is to promote the programme across the borough making it available to all residents.
Commenting on the programme Borough Commander Chief Supt Ian Edwards said:
“I am delighted to be launching this initiative. Domestic burglary and theft from motor vehicles in particular are problems in our borough. This scheme promises to have a major impact in reducing our crime figures and increasing convictions.
“Put very simply: if a criminal steals property that has been marked with our new DNA kits their chances of getting caught and convicted increase considerably. Richmond upon Thames suffers from domestic burglary because it is seen as an affluent area offering rich pickings. Unfortunately our residents sometimes add to the problem with an over relaxed approach to security.
“All this must now change. Use of our new DNA marking kits along with greater vigilance on everyone’s part will make Richmond upon Thames far less fruitful for criminals.
Chief Executive of Richmond Council and chairman of the CSP, Gillian, Norton added:
“This is an excellent scheme and one we are delighted to be working on with the police. There has been a worrying rise in burglary recently in our borough and it is now time to reverse the trend.
“Reducing crime is a job for everyone. It’s a shared responsibility. That is the strength of the CSP – it does not leave the job to the police alone but involves the council and the entire community.
“Our Council aims to make Richmond upon Thames the safest borough in London. Programmes like this one send out the clear message that we really mean business in combating burglary and theft from vehicles.
“The chances are now much higher that the culprits will be caught and this will be a tremendous deterrent.”
