from Thames Valley Police
A new forensic property marking system is being introduced across Buckinghamshire this week to make life more difficult for burglars and thieves and make it easier to convict them.
SelectaDNA forensic property marking is being introduced by the Buckinghamshire Community Safety Partnership as part of Operation Breaker, the Force's anti-burglary drive.
Thames Valley Police's Crime Reduction Advisers will be provided with SelectaDNA property marking kits for allocation to identified crime "hot spot" areas, the elderly and vulnerable and previous victims of burglary, over the course of the next 18 months. Others who are interested can order kits via the SelectaDNA website.
The initial rollout will cover the Elmhurst and Watermead areas of Aylesbury, Buckingham, Chalfont St Peter, the Micklefield and Totteridge areas of High Wycombe, Marlow and Iver.
Thames Valley Police will be advising residents on how to use the marking kits in their homes. Each kit contains a bottle of the SelectaDNA formula, which consists of an ultraviolet tracer and a unique DNA code. The clear liquid, which contains identifying microdots, can be easily applied by residents to any household item to verify it as belonging to their property.
If suitably marked property such as a laptop, flatscreen TV, mobile phone or piece of jewellery is stolen and later recovered by police, it can be scanned using a UV light and traced back to the rightful owner via the DNA marking.
Further information can be seen on the Thames Valley Police website or you can call your local Crime Reduction Adviser via the main number 0845 8 505 505.
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Watch members are advised to exercise caution when dealing with unknown telephone callers, after a resident in Oakley received a suspicious call on the 9th August.
The male caller, who sounded Asian, claimed to be calling from Sky and asked the occupant for her credit card details, in order that they could update Sky's records. The resident, who does have Sky, but pays by Direct Debit, became suspicious and refused to give any details. She later made enquiries with Sky Customer Services, who stated that Sky had not contacted her.
If you receive a call from anyone that is not known to you, asking for bank or credit card details, please refuse, unless you can verify that the person is definitely genuine. If in doubt, call the Police on the non emergency number 0845 8 505 505.
