Smart water

[ladylola]

I've seen this stuff being painted onto lead on several jobs, seen the stickers proclaiming that it is in use and read the blurb saying that it gives a 100% conviction rate,
But,

I recently had a call out to cover up part of a church roof that the ner'do wells had ripped the lead from and the signs and presents of smart water didn't deter the theft. I've also taken scrap lead into a scrapyard and seen it being simply humped into a larger bin with other potentially coated scrap and I've never seen it tested at all in the yard so the question is does it actually work?
According to the info the individual "DNA" of the smart water can be traced even after melting but if each load is not tested as it is brought in to the scrapyard how can any conviction ever take place? Add to this the cost of the water means in is commonly only painted on a very small area and I hear reports of crims using UV lamps to highlight the water marks and cutting it out.
Is it honestly worth using the stuff and does anyone know of any actual convictions?

 

[Alarm]

Yes it has won convictions. Mainly in CIT situations (Cash in Transit), it is used on other items and can be traced to the batch used.
As you have mentioned the scrappy can be a way around it to a degree. And UV can pick it up.

As with any detection device once it is out in the "field" it then becomes susceptible to being bypassed. The trick with SM is it does linger and had a dna trace as mentioned.

It can be and is in fact worth its cost for specific usage.

 

[^woody^]

Smart water is useless when the bloke at the scrap yard is as crooked as the bloke who ripped the lead off the roof

 

[r896neo]

the signs and presents of smart water didn't deter the theft.

No wonder it didn't deter them if they got a free gift.


Sorry i couldn't resist

 

[ladylola]

Doh! I wouldn't be the first to be picked up on bod spolling

 

[Alarm]

To add, it has a 100% conviction rate when used as it should be. A "fagin" type scrappy will not be testing and taking number plates when doing transactions. ( Even a few local to me give different rates to JP and "totters").

There is always someone trying to beat the system

 

[ladylola]

The scrapyard I use is one of the better run as far as I'm aware but doesn't test the lead when it comes in, although they refuse some stuff such as railway cable , beer barrels and anything that looks like it may be stolen. They used to be good for buying full rolls of lead from years ago but nowadays they are cautious about buying in full rolls as scrap as there is a good chance that it's been nicked.
But back to the SM . In principal I do believe it's a good idea although really it needs to be cheaper so the installer can paint it on large sections.
A thought has just occured to me-
If I legitamately strip a roof that has been SM treated ( not that I do it illegally you understand ) and then take it in to a yard where it is tested it will show up as treated. It then needs a more detailed test to determine where it came from and how. What would happen to little law abiding me and my lead in that situation, am I arrested , is the lead impounded and who pays for the testing? Then if this stuff remains even after melting down does that mean new lead is contaiminated with the "DNA" of the old stuff?

 

[Alarm]

Sorry just noticed, melting is the only 100% way of destroying SM. Not the other way around.

On cost as each bottle has its own "DNA" this i would have thought keeps the production costs high.

 

[ladylola]

Sorry just noticed, melting is the only 100% way of destroying SM. Not the other way around.

Guess I should actually read the paperwork rather than just listen to hearsay about its properties.
Thanks for your answers.