Date published: 21 May 2010

Police in Rossendale have set a number of forensic DNA traps to catch burglars who have been targeting empty premises. 

Officers have used a product called SelectaDNA which has several useful characteristics to help prevent and detect crime. The product can be placed within a building or around the outside of a building on lead and other materials a thief may target. 

If touched, the DNA transfers onto the skin, clothes or shoes of an offender irrefutably linking them to the crime scene. The DNA fluoresces under ultra violet light and does not wash off. An offender may not even realise they have been marked with the product. 

The Selecta is being used at a number of locations, two examples being Alma Street Chapel at Bacup and Ashley Court at Whitworth. 

Alma Street Chapel has caused many problems for local residents as youths have ripped off boards and entered the site to smoke, drink and generally act in an anti social manner. The police have teamed up with the owners to install the transferable DNA to assist in identifying offenders. 

Ashley Court is a recently vacated sheltered housing site that has already been subject of a burglary. SelectaDNA has been placed around the site, on pipe work, door frames, window ledges and roofing lead. 

Offenders are warned, entering these buildings and other targeted sites around Rossendale without permission is an offence, you will be marked and irrefutably linked to that crime. 

Crime prevention officer Phil Buck said: “The use of DNA marking and transferrable DNA is being increased across the Pennine police division. Recently vacated buildings and those subject to entry by youths causing anti social behaviour will be pro actively targeted by the police using this product.” 

The police plan to install select property marking kits into 160 homes in the Fieldfare estate area of Rossendale in the near future with the help of funding from Lancashire Partnership against Crime. 

PC Buck concluded: “Thieves beware commit crime and We’ll catch you!”