Anti-burglar gel in bid to cut crime

BURGLARS will have a job on their hands getting away with break-ins in Rotherham thanks to a special gel being used in council homes.

Housing management organisation 2010 Rotherham is using a clear gel which can only be seen with an ultra-violet light as the latest weapon against thieves.

Once a burglar comes into contact with the gel, it transfers onto their hands and clothing and links them to the crime scene.

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The housing body introduced the new security measure in East Herringthorpe.  following a spate of thefts from council-owned homes in the area.

2010 Rotherham’s Chris Gaynor said: “We want burglars to be aware of the fact that property in our homes is permanently and visibly marked using an indelible compound and therefore it is not worth their while to steal it.

“It is impossible for a burglar to remove the marking and it will be immediately obvious to a police officer if that has been attempted.

“The gel is only visible under UV light, so when police scan criminals in a custody suite they can be sure that if someone has traces of it on them, they had something to do with the crime.

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“By using permanent marking in our empty homes it reinforces to would-be thieves that they are more likely to get caught than get away with our property.

“We have the responsibility of managing, repairing and improving the 21,000 council houses in Rotherham and aim to create the safest environment possible for our customers.

“Most of the homes being marked are family homes.”

The scheme, which could be rolled out to other areas, is being funded by the Safer Rotherham Partnership and aims to safeguard almost 1,500 council homes that become empty in Rotherham every year as one tenant moves out and another prepares to move in.

Before a new tenant takes up residence, 2010 Rotherham send in workmen to repair and improve the property.

During this time, the home can become vulnerable to burglary with boilers and copper piping being the main target for thieves and the gel used around the houses is seen as a useful deterrent.