A CRIME protection initiative is now available to people in Hartlepool who wish to safeguard their property.
Residents in the Burn Valley and Rift House wards are being offered the chance to have their possessions marked for free with Smartwater, an indelible solution containing a unique DNA-style identification code.
If an item is stolen and then recovered, the Smartwater code can be retrieved using ultraviolet light.
The owner can then be traced through a computer database.
Community wardens and police community support officers have been trained to mark residents' property with Smartwater.
Brian Neale, co-ordinator of the community safety initiative, said: "There was a good take-up of Smartwater in the Burbank area, and I would urge residents in Burn Valley and Rift House to do the same."
Anyone wishing to arrange to have their property marked with Smartwater can contact community safety officer Steve D'Arcy on (01429) 405579.
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