Residents and businesses alike are taking up the call to help Cheshire Police fend off criminals by protecting their property with unique and traceable marking techniques.
Operation Shield uses a forensic liquid containing DNA unique to each property. It can be used to mark belongings, allowing it to be returned to the owner no matter where it is recovered from. Offenders committing crime can also find themselves marked with the forensic liquid – which stays on their hair, skin, and clothes and cannot be washed off. Criminals will not be able to see it in normal light, but police will using UV light.
Every person arrested in Cheshire will be screened under a special ultra violet light in custody – if they have committed a crime in an Operation Shield area, they will be marked, and the unique DNA will link them directly to the individual crime scene.
Phase one of Operation Shield launched in March and that month saw the lowest figures for burglary in 25 years across the county.
The second phase of the operation was launched lastweek, having expanded to encompass schools, rural homes and businesses.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: "Putting a protective shield around homes and businesses and making life tough for the criminal is key to stopping those who believe they are entitled to help themselves to other people's property. My message to these offenders is quite clear, you need to think about your actions as in Cheshire there is no easy option.
"Operation Shield is not just about placing a protective shield around our homes and places of work, it is also about making its mark on those who profit from these crimes. It is vital for us to be able to establish who owns what, and when you have forensic property marking in place, it is easy for us to establish the rightful owners of that property. Criminals who make their living from breaking into homes and business and stealing other people's possessions need to know that across Cheshire, Operation Shield will provide officers with essential evidence to bring you to justice.
"We have had very positive feedback about how phase one has worked and those who are part of our protective shield have told us they feel less fearful of becoming a victim of crime."
Visit the Cheshire Police website for more information about Cheshire's expanding Shield.
