Building site thieves are marked men

Apr 18 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

BUILDING firm Rok has done its bit to cut crime within the region’s construction sector by installing the latest forensic security system at a housing development in County Durham.

The builder, which employs 278 staff in the region, has installed SmartWater technology at its ongoing Ferryhill Station development as a way of catching scrap metal thieves who prey on building sites.

The technology works by spraying trespassers with an invisible and virtually impossible to remove liquid that glows brightly under ultra-violet light. The liquid, which can also be used in the home and is picked up by special police equipment, contains a DNA-style forensic code which links the sprayed individual with the specific incident.

In addition to the Ferryhill development , which involves the construction of 30 affordable houses for the Three Rivers Housing Association, Rok is now looking to work with police to extend the technology to all its sites in the North East.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “Thieves should be aware that this DNA-style technology will mark them out.”