Operation Lockout - Success story
Successful crime-busting campaign Operation Lockout, which uses SelectaDNA forensic marking as a major component of the scheme, has dramatically reduced burglary and theft in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Since the launch of the scheme four years ago, residential burglaries in Richmond have dropped from 1,550 in 2005-6 to just under 1,000 in 2009-10 - an impressive drop of 33%.
What the project involves
The project involves the distribution of a burglary pack containing a SelectaDNA kit, which is given to all victims of domestic burglary. The pack also includes crime prevention advice and information to enable victims to increase their home security and prevent them from becoming repeat victims.
Operation Lockout has contributed towards making Richmond London’s Safest Borough. The initiative has already been adopted in areas of Holland, Germany, Belgium and Australia.
Cycle thefts
Meanwhile, recognising an increase in the number of cycle thefts across London, the Operation Lockout team in conjunction with local police Safer Neighbourhood Teams have embarked on a series of free cycle security marking events employing Bikeregister.com, the secure online bike database which is owned and managed by Selectamark.
Once a bike has been security marked and registered on bikeregister.com, it immediately becomes a less attractive target for thieves, and if stolen and recovered by the police, the bike can be easily identified and returned to its owner.
An Operation Lockout Roadshow has been present at over 50 public events this year such as local fairs, college fresher's days and safer transport events across the borough offering free bike security marking and phone marking to residents and students.
For further information please contact
Kevin Fletcher-Biles
Operation Lockout Project Coordinator
Community Safety Partnership
T: 020 8831 6196