Laptop returned after theft

One BSIA member provides marking solutions for personal items such as cameras and laptops which recently resulted in the successful return of a laptop to its rightful owner. The type of marking provided can also be used by businesses to ensure their IT equipment can be returned to them if stolen and in the first instance, provide a deterrent to the thief.

The product provided by the BSIA member consists of a water-based adhesive containing a unique identity code. It can be easily applied onto a laptop or office-based computer system in order to irrefutably mark the items. If the equipment is stolen and later recovered by the police, the DNA marking can be read using a UV lamp and the item returned to the owner.

This was put into practice recently when police apprehended two offenders who had broken into a house in Lewisham, South East London, and stole a laptop among other things. The laptop belonged to a teacher at a school in Chelsea who had taken it home with her to do some extra work.
As the laptop had been forensically marked with the name of the school, the police were able to quickly identify where it came from.

PC Smith from Lewisham Borough Burglary Squad, said: "Laptop thefts are very common, but recovering them and returning them to their owners is near impossible without forensic marking. We have seen it in action and it really does work."

Click here to provide a BSIA member who can provide you with a property marking solution.