VILLAGERS in Tibberton have joined the district’s army of SmartWater households aiming to fight back against thieves and burglars.
Wychavon District Council has been working with Tibberton Parish Council and West Mercia Police to hand out SmartWater kits to residents to help deter criminals from targeting the area.
SmartWater is a colourless liquid solution applied to the surfaces of belongings and valuables. It leaves a unique code which is almost impossible to remove and can only be viewed under ultraviolet light.
More than 70% of households quickly signed up to the scheme meaning Tibberton has now officially become Wychavon’s 29th SmartWater Village.
The packs were funded by Tibberton Parish Council and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion. Wychavon’s Community Safety team has been supporting Tibberton Parish Council to promote the scheme to residents.
It is part of West Mercia Police’s ‘We don’t buy crime’ initiative which is aimed at deterring acquisitive crime, which includes burglary, theft, robbery and shoplifting.
Councillor Rob Adams, executive board member for stronger communities, culture and sport on Wychavon District Council, said: “Congratulations to Tibberton on joining Wychavon’s SmartWater army.
“Anything we can do to help protect people’s property and make life more difficult for criminals is a good thing. I’d encourage other areas to explore this opportunity to make Wychavon an even safe place to live, work and visit.”
Other parishes or villages interested in becoming SmartWater villages should email [email protected] for advice on the process.
Robbie Hazlehurst, chair of Tibberton Parish Council, said: “The fact the parish is so close to the motorway makes it quite easy for people out of the area to access the village and commit crime.
“We wanted to do something to make it as difficult as possible for them to do that and the SmartWater scheme has been well received by residents who were eager to sign up.”
