The Crime Prevention Website

West Midlands Police have been handing out free crime prevention marking kits and shed alarms after a rise in burglary in the area.

Just in the last fortnight, 15 homes in Kemsey Drive, Bilston and 24 in Sterling Road, Bradley, have been given the property marking equipment manufactured by SelectaDNA

The SelectDNA traceable liquid contains UV tracer and a unique DNA code, as well as thousands of microdots in certain products, so it can be easily detected by police and traced back to its rightful owner should the marked property be taken.

Latest crime data from West Midlands Police show burglaries reducing by 15% in Sandwell and Walsall, but increasing by 1.2% in Wolverhampton and up by 15% in Dudley

However this gives an overall decrease across the region of 10%, which is 942 fewer break-ins compared with the same period last year.

TCPW Comment

It’s great that West Midlands Police are using crime prevention as one of their tactics to reduce burglary in their hotspot areas, but they will also be relying on the householders to use the products being handed out and to make sure they properly secure their homes.

Property marking is worth doing for three main reasons:

  • Deterring: By displaying property marking stickers around the building’s windows and doors you are hoping that the thief will be deterred from even trying to break in
  • Detection: Should a thief not be deterred and steal a marked item of property there is a better chance that a thief arrested in possession of it will be prosecuted
  • Recovery: Should the property be recovered in whatever circumstances the marks will prove rightful ownership leading to its eventual return

However, it’s important to realise that property marking is just one of several things you need to do in order to avoid burglary and theft. In some respects property marking could be described as the ‘last chance saloon’, because you will still need to concentrate on securing your doors and windows so the thieves don’t get access to your property in the first place.

Source: Express and Star http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/26/security-stepped-up-on-targeted-bilston-homes/

Property Marking - your comprehensive guide: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-inside-the-home/484/property-identification--marking-tagging-and-tracking/

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