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Catch them RED-handed | |||||||||||||||||
Put a biodegradable dye that is visible in both normal and UV light that would be sprayed out of the lawn sprinkler system if a home or business alarm system is activated. Getting an intruder wet would be a deterrent but having them literally turn “RED”. Because the dye would be tracked by the suspects they could be easily trailed. Signs of the dye on a vehicle would give the police probable cause to stop it and ask questions. The dye would wash off the yard the next time the sprinkler is used. An alternative would be to just use a clear dye that would be only visible under a UV light so the yard would not be discolored even for a short time. Police would have to have UV lights to identify suspects.
Larry Jeffus, Nov 01 2003
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This is a nice translation of what banks do with exploding money bags and ink.
I was on a Jury once where a thief working inside UPS was caught / baited "red handed" (actually blue handed) using Phosphorisent (sp?) powder sprinkled inside a well sealed package of diamonds and watches. There was no defense other than a plea of prejudice (as he was a minority). Anyway he was sent away for 10 years much to our Joy :) Dies and powders need to be used more often as deterents. I love the concept.
Good basic idea. There are many setbacks to using a sprinkler system however. I am aware of a system that can be easily amended to be more effective: using the right additive to a smoke-aided anti-intrusion system. Note www.smokemachines.com and the Smoke Screen application
Sorry, no ace with the HTML codes. The site to visit: http://www.smokemachines.com
What if the thief doesn't drive and manages to get pass all the sprinkler without being sprayed. But instead, the spinkler got your next door neighbour's car without their knowing that his/her car has been sprayed. Then your innoncent neighbour would be the prime suspect?
It'd be better have a small spray device that's mounted outside your doors and windows.
Since my car was recently broken into I've been looking for ways to mark the valuables in my car as well as mark anyone who attempts to take them. My stereo was safe because my car alarm went off, but only after the thief broke my window. My neighbor had her car stereo forcibly ripped out.
Because nothing was removed from my car and there were no cameras or witnesses there was no way to identify the perpetrator. Spraying the whole area with UV dye would have been ideal.
Doing a search I found: SmartWater in the UK.
------------------------"The SmartWater Index Spray System is designed to spray intruders with a water-based solution, which contains a unique 'forensic code’. This creates an irrefutable link between the crime scene and the criminal."------------------------
Their spray system is only being marketed to businesses, it seems. For homeowners they have a kit that consists of UV dye that people use to mark their valuables. The best part is that the dye has a unique marker so stolen property, or UV-coated burglars, can be traced back to the scene of the crime. The UV dye doesn't wash off so the criminal is "tagged" for months.
It's being used very effectively in the UK. Thieves see the "SmartWater" decal on a house or other property and they walk away. Those that ignore the warning can risk getting caught and deal with the 100% conviction rate.
I haven't found a US distributor yet, but perhaps adding this UV water additive to the aforementioned fog machine would be a nice start. (Apparently the SmartWater spray system is a fine mist.) The homegrown solution wouldn't have the fancy microscopic id tag, but you'd still end up with a perp that glows under UV light. :)
If you want "red-handed" you can use this: Thief Detection Powder(I'm not affiliated with that website -- in fact they compete with my website!)
Some discussion about SmartWater at schneier.com.