Allotment holders have teamed up with a police adviser to protect their property.
SmartWater has been provided to Cherry Orchard Allotments in Stoke Road so allotment holders can protect their property. They enlisted the help of Thames Valley Police crime reduction officer Annie Tewkesbury to show them how best to put SmartWater, which is a clear liquid that contains a traceable DNA-type substance and is designed to deter thieves, on their valuables.
Sandra Haines, who has four allotments at the site, said: “We have marked everyone’s equipment and tools and put notices up on all the lockers and perimeter fences to make them aware SmartWater is in use on the site. Annie has advised us on where to mark stuff, she has been really helpful."
“Thieves usually come in early spring looking for stuff to sell off. The amount of damage they do is unbelievable, half the time they don’t take anything because they are old tools. We are hoping that prevention is going to be better than cure, If they are aware SmartWater is on site it might deter them from coming in.”
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