500 tenants take part in Sandwell crime crackdown scheme

People in the borough were given crime fighting tips as part of a project aiming to deter criminals from stealing prized goods.

Sandwell Council, in partnership with West Midlands Police, gave hundreds of council tenants the chance to mark their valuables with SmartWater.

SmartWater consists of a unique forensic solution that can be registered to the home with a set of warning signs.

Items marked with SmartWater can be traced back to the address by the police as part of the scheme to deter thieves.

The resident, assisted by a Sandwell Council neighbourhoods officer, paints a small amount of the invisible solution onto their most valuable and treasured items.

They then display the warning signs in prominent position around their home.

Sandwell Council purchased 500 kits, at the request of the police, as part of an 'invest to save' initiative during the Safer 6 campaign.

These kits were then given out free to residents in Sandwell to help them combat burglaries.

Inspector Mohammed Hanif, from Sandwell Police, said: "Targeting burglars is a priority for us and we hope that the use of the liquid solution will help us stay one step ahead of criminals.

"When we seize property as part of our investigations, we always search it for security markings such as this special fluid.

"This means we're able to prove that the valuables found on suspects isn't theirs.

"This helps put them before the courts and then return the items to the rightful owner when justice is done."

The Safer 6 campaign ran through six towns in the borough aiming to tackle problem issues facing individual communities and neighbourhoods.

A wide range of crimes and issues around anti-social behaviour were tackled during the project running late last year.

This includes alcohol seizures on the street, litter picks, test purchases from shops selling cigarettes and removing abandoned vehicles.

Council officers also clamped down on dog fouling, and joined firefighters to offer residents advice on smoke alarms with home fire safety checks.