New weapon in fight against thieves
Portable AATTS alarm technology hailed by police as major step in combating metal theft
A NEW portable alarm system that can film thieves and link them to crimes using DNA technology has been hailed by police as a major step towards helping to combat the massive rise in metals theft in remote locations.
According to HM Revenue and Customs, an estimated 10,000 incidents of metal theft every year cost the UK economy more than £5.6billion in lost revenue.
The Alarmed and Traceable Technology Solutions System (AATTS), developed by Kilmarnock-based PID Systems, is the first purpose-built alarm system for protecting vulnerable properties and locations to be approved and recommended by the Association of chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The system is battery powered and wireless so it does not need to be connected to a mains supply or phone line. It can be installed quickly and easily and gives a loud, bespoke verbal warning when an intruder is detected, notifying the owner of the building and capturing any attempted theft on video.
The vandal-resistant alarm system is used in conjunction with indelible, DNA-based marking dye which can only be seen under UV light. It coats intruders with a unique encrypted molecular marking that can be irrefutably linked back to the crime scene.
Jacqui Shiel, development manager for ACPO’s Secured by Design initiative, said: ‘Metal theft is a growing problem which can be very expensive to address, both in the cost of replacing materials taken and in effecting repairs. Early notification of a potential problem is very important in preventing this disruption and identifying those responsible.’
PID Systems’ AATTS is said to be an effective weapon in the fight against metal theft because it can be deployed quickly and easily in a wide variety of internal and external locations, and uses the latest technology to provide an adaptable, early warning and detection system.
