SmartWater identifies career criminal
A career criminal that has never had a job and lived off the proceeds of his crimes for decades has been sentenced to seven months in prison for handling stolen goods. Aldo Jones, 43, who has amassed 36 previous criminal convictions, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of handling stolen goods.
A career criminal that has never had a job and lived off the proceeds of his crimes for decades has been sentenced to seven months in prison for handling stolen goods. Aldo Jones, 43, who has amassed 36 previous criminal convictions, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of handling stolen goods.
Jones was arrested in possession of two gold rings which were marked with the forensic liquid SmartWater. He was spotted trying to pawn the rings at a jewellery shop and was reported to the police by a member of the public.
Before the two rings could be sent to SmartWaters laboratories for analysis, a local resident contacted Stanmore Park Safer Neighbourhoods team and reported that two rings had gone missing from her house. She confirmed that both rings had been marked with SmartWater, having had all of her property marked during a visit from the Safer Neighbourhoods team a few weeks earlier.
Officers investigating Jones confirmed that traces of SmartWater, which fluoresces under ultraviolet light, were present on both rings found in his possession. The rings have subsequently been returned to their 78-year-old owner. She said that she doesnt always lock her door when she is at home and hadnt realised she had been burgled.
Police community support officer (PCSO) Amy Furmenger, of Stanmore Park Safer Neighbourhoods team, said: The owner of the rings was absolutely delighted to be reunited with her property. She was full of praise for police so much so that she stood up and thanked us personally at a recent community meeting.
In February, Harrow Council announced plans to offer SmartWater property marking to all 85,000 houses and flats across the London borough.
While SmartWater had been used selectively elsewhere in London, it was the first time a council in the capital had offered the system to all its residents.
Harrow Council is investing £425,000 over two years to back the scheme. All householders will be eligible to one free container of SmartWater.
The marking of household valuables is just one aspect of the SmartWater campaign, which will be rolled out across the borough. Harrow police are being equipped with ultraviolet detection equipment at no cost, while Harrow Council will partner with the police on separate covert operations to target persistent offenders. These covert operations will deploy SmartWater spray systems which mark offenders skin, clothing and hair, linking them to a specific crime scene.
SmartWater already works with 95 per cent of police forces to help reduce crime and across the country, one million homes are already protected with SmartWater, more than 95 per cent of which are social housing.
For further information call 0800 521 669 or visit www.smartwater.com
