In the past three years, the Tyne and Wear Metro has been hit by 17 separate incidents of cable theft. The repair bill alone has totalled GB pound 56,000.
The colourless SmartWater chemical, which carries its own forensic signature, is being used to protect 58 kilometres of Metro track owned and managed by Nexus.
SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove, and is invisible to the naked eye, but fluoresces under ultraviolet (UV) light. The forensic signature it contains can be used by police officers to link property to its owners and criminals to the crime scene.
Searching for traces of SmartWater
Tyne and Wear Metro trackside equipment has now been coated with the SmartWater solution, and Northumbria Police officers are equipping themselves with UV scanning devices which they will be able to use to search for traces of the solution.
Recyclers EMR and SITA (UK) are actively scanning for traces of SmartWater with UV lighting, and are also refusing to handle any metal marked with SmartWater in an effort to stamp out this type of theft. All of this spells bad news for thieves looking to try and sell on stolen metals, which are now worth a great deal of money on the black market.
SmartWater is being increasingly used in the railway industry in an effort to reduce incidents of metal theft, but this is the first time the technology has been used in this way in the North East.
Speaking about SmartWater’s application, acting inspector Tim Hand of the Northumbria Police Metro Unit told SMT Online: “We welcome the introduction of SmartWater to the Metro system. In the past, it has not always been easy to return stolen property to its owners, but now we will be able to easily establish property belonging to the Metro. The effectiveness of Smartwater will also act as a deterrent to thieves.”
Helping to secure convictions
Tyne and Wear Metro director Mick Carbro explained: “Metro property is now protected by SmartWater. This is a highly effective deterrent in the fight against cable theft on the Metro system. It shows up under UV light and is permanent. If criminals attempt to remove it they can inadvertently spread around more forensic evidence which can then aid the police in securing a conviction. SmartWater has a proven track record of helping the police to catch thieves.”
Carbro added: “This was the right thing for Metro to invest in as SmartWater has a 100% conviction rate when used as evidence in support of prosecutions. Criminals will find it tough to fight back against it as it provides strong evidence.”