Mutley and Greenbank residents to get home security packs

Police in Plymouth are launching a partnership initiative with SmartWater Technology Ltd as part of the Force’s commitment to tackling domestic burglary.

The pilot scheme, which begins on Monday 23 February, will see around 1,000 SmartWater home security packs issued to homes in the Mutley and Greenbank areas for people to mark their personal possessions.

Officers will be knocking on doors to issue households with a uniquely coded bottle of SmartWater traceable liquid. The liquid is then brushed onto a valuable item, ensuring it can be traced using a special UV scanner.

Once applied SmartWater is almost impossible to remove, enabling officers to identify stolen goods once checked under UV light. The unique code within the traceable liquid provides an irrefutable forensic link back to the owner of the stolen goods and can also link the criminal with the crime scene.

SmartWater can be used to protect all kinds of valuables – from televisions and laptops to jewellery and bicycles. Items marked with SmartWater are less attractive to thieves because they can be traced back to their owner and as a result increasing the risk of detection and police arrest.

Neighbourhood policing teams will also be working closely with second hand stores in the area to raise awareness of issues around handling stolen goods.

Other police forces who have worked with SmartWater in similar initiatives have seen reductions in reports of burglary and house breaking of up to 85 per cent.

Detective Constable Jamie Gilbert, based in Plymouth, said: “It is fantastic to be working with SmartWater to support the communities around the Mutley and Greenbank area in the reduction and prevention of crime.

"Other police forces have shown that the use of SmartWater kits has a really positive impact. We hope that if this pilot is successful the scheme will be rolled out to other areas across Plymouth, as well as Devon and Cornwall.”