Police in Derbyshire have highlighted how relationships with the recycling industry and the spread of SmartWater are helping to foil scrap metal thieves.
As the price of many metals has soared due to global demand, previously ignored sources of lead, brass, copper, and other materials have become a focus for criminals.
Key national infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, railway cabling, power grids and even water processing sites have all been targeted, leading to huge disruption to people's lives and significant ongoing repair costs.
Much of this stolen metal makes its way to scrap yards, which face severe penalties if they are found to be handling stolen goods.
However, Derbyshire Police has demonstrated how reputable recyclers are facing the issue head-on and playing their part in stamping out the illegal trade. Officers invited a reporter from the Ilkeston Advertiser newspaper to join them on a routine visit to a scrap metal dealer that is taking the problem seriously.
Police Sergeant Russell Davey, told the newspaper: “We can't recommend SmartWater to people enough, every batch is unique and it does help us recover stolen property and return it to its rightful owner.”
The dealer visited by the officers and the journalist, Ward Recycling, is recognised by police as legitimate and known to be taking all appropriate steps to thwart thieves. Its workers use ultraviolet lamps to check incoming material for traces of the unique SmartWater signature. If they find SmartWater markings, the metal is separated and the police notified.
The yard's contact at Derbyshire Police is Constable Louise Stevenson, who told the paper: “SmartWater is brilliant. It's so easy to use and we know that thieves are put off by it.”
Across the UK, police forces have been liaising with scrap metal dealers and, where necessary, carrying out spot checks and raids with other agencies, including SmartWater Technology's investigators.