DataDot

Microdotting pilot seeks to make stolen goods 'too hot to handle'

A pilot initiative designed to reduce property-related crimes through the use of an owner-identifying technology called microdotting was launched in Gauteng on Thursday.

The project will see newly trained youth apply microdots to the valuables of 500 households within the Westonaria region over the coming three months. Two similar, but smaller, pilots had previously been launched in Pretoria and Cape Town.

Every year, South Africans fall victim to 500 000 residential burglaries and 18 000 residential robberies - shocking numbers that exclude burglaries and robberies related to the country's business sector and vehicle hijackings.

Speaking at the launch, Business Against Crime national project manager Lorinda Nel said that property-related crimes remained South Africa's most prevalent type of crime, but that the South African Police Service (SAPS) also consistently battled with the identification of stolen items when these were recovered.

The application of thousands of microdots, each smaller than 0,8 mm, involves the use of an ultraviolet adhesive. The innovation can be applied to a range of items, from a valuable ring, through to a car or a boat.

Each dot carries a microscopic personal identification number visible through a scope (a small device that uses ultraviolet light and a magnifying lens to identify the item and, in turn, its legitimate owner.

Project sponsor DataDot Technologies' Dekker van Wyk said that the advantage of using the system lay was the fact that thieves would never be able to remove all the dots.

He added that the technology was affordable, with 3 000 microdots costing as little as R400. "This is usually more than enough to cover the valuable assets of an average household," he assured.

Westonaria SAPS brigadier Frank Mtombeni said that pilot project could prove beneficial in combating crime in the area.

He noted that Westonaria was still experiencing high crime levels, with around 60% of these incidents being property-theft related. "The criminals are holding us at ransom, but this microdot technology will give us the tools to nail them," he commented.

Sphinx CEO Eddie Mokhoanatse, who also represented military and defence veterans, said that a market continued to exist for stolen property, which could be curtailed through the use of the microdot technology.

Van Wyk argued that the initiative could make stolen goods "too hot to handle", as those found in possession of the "wrong dot", including second-hand merchandisers, would face arrest.

"This is just a pilot project to smooth out any possible glitches. However, our plan is to roll this initiative out to other regions and to grow the microdot footprint nationally," said Mokhoanatse.

A future national roll-out would be backed by a combination of technology, legislation, and community participation, as "strong partnerships" would determine success or failure.

The existing partnership between business and government had already resulted in a move to make microdotting compulsory on all new vehicles from next year.