Neighbourhood Policing

THEFT OF METALS FROM BUILDINGS

As a result of the high prices being paid for many scrap metals, we have experienced a high level of theft of metal from the exterior of buildings.

Many churches, heritage and public buildings have now started to use one of the chemical genetic marking paints on exposed lead.  There are 3 companies which produce these products – Smartwater, SelectaDNA and Redweb.

All of their products fluoresce under UV light (each reflecting a different colour) and contain microdots etched with a unique number, which identifies the owner.

The Grease product is particularly useful as it will coat the clothes of an offender and is very difficult to remove.

All offenders brought through Custody pass through a UV arch and all stolen items recovered are inspected under UV.  If the UV examination is positive, samples of the product are taken by SOCO and the Microdots examined to trace the owner.

Other options:

1.                  Paint the lead / copper – This reduces its scrap value and makes it less visible from the road.

2.                  Replacing lead with zinc or a similar material with no scrap value, such as Ubiflex

Report suspicious activity to the police on 0845 8 505 505

Caroline Heard,

Crime Reduction Advisor

Royal Borough Windsor & Maidenhead