CROPTHORNE is set to become a ‘Smart Water’ village as part of a project to help police identify and reduce crime.
The Vale village will be the first in South Worcestershire to be completely protected by a property marking scheme, led by the South Worcestershire Business and Rural Crime team (SWBRC).
Smart Water is a fluid, which when painted on items, leaves a unique code which is almost impossible to remove and can only be viewed under ultraviolet light.
The marked items are then registered with a national database so police can use it to identify stolen goods, link criminals to crime scenes and ensure stolen property is returned to the rightful owner.
All 240 households in Cropthorne aim to be protected by Smart Water, as members of the SWBRC team, as well as police, cadets and councillors visit residents over the next few weeks to hand out the Smart Water kits.
Cropthorne Parish Council is paying for the kits using £2,295 of New Homes Bonus money granted to them by Wychavon District Council, and South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership (SWCSP) will put up signs informing people it’s a Smart Water protected area.
Simon Thompson, SWBRC co-ordinator for SWCSP said: “Cropthorne and South Worcestershire as a whole is a safe place to live.
“However, we know at this time of year with darker nights and Christmas approaching, there are more opportunities for burglars to strike.
“Using Smart Water will help protect households by deterring criminals in the first place and make it easier for police to identify those responsible for stealing property.”
