Three men sprayed by a forensic security system when they broke into a Bridgnorth supermarket have been convicted of burglary.
SmartWater is activated by movement and sprays intruders with a unique forensic liquid which contains a DNA-style code specific to the protected property.
The three men were arrested following a police pursuit, after officers were called to the Somerfield store shortly after 12.30am on November 27 last year. Two of the three offenders were sprayed with the marking product as they entered the premises, which was found on their clothing after they were taken into custody.
20 Year old Leon John Abbey, from Tipton, was sentenced this week (Jan 19th) at Telford Magistrates court after admitting to the burglary. Abbey was sentenced to a community order with supervision requirements for 12 months, and was ordered to carry out the Think First programme. He was also instructed to pay £60 costs.
The two other men involved in the break-in, Lee Anslow and Christopher Boot, were dealt with at an earlier court appearance. Both men received a 12 month community order, 12 months supervision, were ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, and pay £60 costs.
Detective Sergeant Allan Crossley, of Bridgnorth CID, said the convictions should serve as a warning to criminals that, when caught and they or anything in their possession is found to be marked with the product, a conviction was extremely likely.
"This is the first time SmartWater evidence has been presented during a trial to help us convict offenders in Shropshire," he said.
"The technology is proving to be an extremely valuable tool in both detecting and preventing crime. We hope this conviction will serve as a warning to other potential criminals that they will be convicted if SmartWater is found on them.
"More and more businesses are having systems fitted and a large number of domestic properties also have valuable contents marked with SmartWater. As each system has a unique forensic code linked to that premises only, an offender cannot deny having involvement with an offence."
Everyone brought into any of the custody suites across West Mercia can be tested for the presence of the product.
A spokesperson for Somerfield said: "SmartWater is one of many security measures we have put in place nationally to deter criminal activity. These convictions are a testament to the excellent work of West Mercia Constabulary and will send out a powerful warning to all criminals."
Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater added: "SmartWater is a proven method for reducing crime. Our technology can forensically link an offender with an individual crime scene, meaning they cannot deny their involvement. Police forces across the UK are equipped to search for SmartWater and we maintain a 100 per cent conviction rate whenever SmartWater evidence has been used in court."
