Police and businesses have banded together to create a secure zone on their industrial estate, with £100,000 of backing from SmartWater Technology Ltd.
In a scheme that could become a model for use across the UK, firms throughout Stafford Park, in Telford, have been provided with SmartWater products to protect premises and goods with the firm's forensic liquid and security devices.
The town's MP, David Wright, gave his backing to the scheme, known as Operation Citadel, at its launch. It will see a secure business zone created in which firms can share crime intelligence and work with each other and partner organisations to make their trading area a no-go zone for criminals.
Police figures show that in 2009/10 there were 88 offences on Stafford Park alone, with total crimes on all of Telford's industrial estates reaching 290.
The fight against business crime on Stafford Park is being led by the One Telford Safer Stronger Business Forum. It's chairman is Mick Ebsworth, head of security at Capgemini.
He explained that businesses would be able to mark all of their metal items, plus anything liable to be stolen, such as IT equipment with SmartWater, which shows up under ultraviolet light.
Mr Ebdworth added: “Any thief who is stupid enough to steal from Stafford Park in the future faces a very good chance of being caught. The trace will show up on a police station scan to reveal where their sticky fingers have been.
“Crime is forecast to rise in an economic downturn and police can't be everywhere. If a thief steals your lorries catalytic converters, it stops your business working and you can lose contracts. But if everything is SmartWater marked then this is a real opportunity to keep thieves at bay and protect your business.”
Police in the town have access to special ultraviolet lamps which show up SmartWater, allowing them to quickly check for its presence. When the uniquely-coded liquid is found on the items it can be traced back to their owner, providing evidence that they have been stolen.
Metal objects have become increasingly popular with thieves as the demand, and therefore price, for scrap metal has risen around the world.
Popular targets for criminals are catalytic converters, copper wiring, lead from roofs, engine parts, satellite navigation devices and even drain covers. All of these can be marked and protected with SmartWater.
SmartWater Technology Ltd chief executive, Phil Cleary, said: “Our approach has always been about a complete strategy approach to risk management, backed up by the technology to deter and, if necessary, convict criminals. Protection for businesses comes in many layers, including sharing information and advice, so the Operation Citadel initiative is doing all of the right things to drive the criminals away from hard working businesses. That's why we were so keen to support it.”
Business leaders hope the Operation Citadel example could be carried over to other industrial estates across Telford, the wider county of Shropshire and even throughout the UK.