Tracking Robbers with DNA
Police in Sydney, Australia have been dealing with a rise in robberies at McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants. This typically occurs because the restaurants have multiple entry and exit points, high cash turnover, and staff that work through the night. One McDonald’s even experienced two robberies during one week in September 2011.
To fight this problem, several McDonald’s locations in Australia are spraying suspected robbers with DNA when there has been a security breach. Doing so allows law enforcement to trace the offender back to the scene of the crime. After someone is sprayed with DNA solution, it becomes is visible under a UV light. Although invisible to the naked eye, the solution can stay on an individual’s skin for up to two weeks and can stay on his or her clothes for up to six months.
Sources
MCDONALD'S NABS ROBBERS BY SPRAYING THEM WITH DNA
http://www.policeone.com/police-products/less-lethal/sprays-aerosols/art...
Prevention Relevance
Spraying robbers with DNA has the potential to deter would be offenders from threatening private and public agencies/organizations that are key components of our nation’s critical infrastructure.
Prevention Techniques
[Intervention] DNA solution has the potential to not only deter robbers from offending, but it has a virtually limitless set of applications for law enforcement as a whole.
Prevention Thought
[Intervention] Is this technology affordable in the U.S.? Would DNA solution present any civil liberty issues?
IPS Contact Information
The Institute for Preventive Strategies is a national service of the Center for Rural Development, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Somerset Kentucky.
You may contact the Institute by e-mail at: info@preventivestrategies.net
You may correspond with the Institute at:
Institute for Preventive Strategies
2292 South Highway 27, Suite 300
Somerset, KY 42501
Telephone: 1-800-860-6657
