Used by the police: UV lamps

For a few years now the police has increasingly been advising the public to mark valuables with artificial DNA such as SelectaDNA. In case of a burglary thusly marked stolen property can quickly be assigned and returned to its owner. Plus, labels indicating artificial DNA scare thieves off. The number of burglaries is going down, while the percentage of cases solved rises. The marking is rendered visible by means of a UV lamp.

Artificial DNA such as SelectaDNA, which is for instance used by the Bremen police, works on a simple principle: The buyer gets a freely available marking kit with the artificial DNA substance. He either brushes or sprays it onto valuables such as a car, bike, laptop, bank notes or a jewellery box. At first, SelectaDNA goes unseen by the thief and is only rendered visible by means of a special UV lamp once the stolen goods are found. Under UV light each DNA kit displays an individual code by use of which the legal owner can be identified by the police through database queries.

Off-putting: DNA labels reduce the number of break-ins

Also it has been proven that labels indicating artificial DNA act as deterrent. Where these are used, the number of burglaries is substantially reduced – even to the double-digit range.

The UV lamp shows the DNA code on the stolen goods

Artificial DNA to reduce the theft rate not only has a visible effect on private homes: Shopkeepers can also work with spraying devices in the doorway, which are activated in case of a burglary, thus marking the thief. Even the Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) by now marks copper pipes and tubing with SelectaDNA as anti-theft measure. In case of a burglary or when the police is confronted with suspicious objects, a UV lamp renders the marking on the stolen property visible. The two UV-A hand lamps from the Trotec range of products, which are used for leak detection, are also ideally suited for use by the police.