Security marking boats Engines etc by SelectaDNA

[Capt Popeye]

Yesterday , down ere in Teignmouth Harbour , (Polly Steps car park) we were offered a free Security DNAmarking stint by the Harbour Staff , Police Devon & Cornwall , plus SelectaDNA staff ;

Was a most efficient well organised service ; we could bring along our Out Boards by Car or arrive on Water by Boat to the Polly Steps Launching facility ;
I understand that we might be offered another chance later on this year !

This is I understand it , a pro active attempt by those Organisations involved , to reduce or prevent theft of boats and boat gear in our area ; the items are marked usin a 'Selecta' DNA solution that is then logged and ownerships listed so if an item is recovered or located then its proper Ownership can be proved

 

[scottie]

With seagulls it was normally done using the blood samples from the blisters on the starting cord

 

[Capt Popeye]

Might ask if anybody has actually had their boats or equipment security marked in such a way already ; especially with Outboards , where there value is in dismantllng them selling the parts , spares ; often overseas , might have thought that by marking with a non evident DNA solution there was a very good chance of tracing the theives

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I wonder if plod have ever recovered anything by virtue of it.

 

[Greemble]

My outboard had a serial number stamped on it, which I gave to the police when reported its theft.
I was told there was no chance of recovery.

How is this any different if the police aren't actually going to look?

 

[Capt Popeye]

My outboard had a serial number stamped on it, which I gave to the police when reported its theft.
I was told there was no chance of recovery.

How is this any different if the police aren't actually going to look?

Well maybe them Out Board thives remove the Identification Numbers etc pretty early on when they theive an OB ; the idea of this invisible DNA marking is that the Theives are not aware of the Number so cannot remove it from the OB ; If the Police come accross the marked OB they can check for a DNA identification , then trace it back to last owner etc ; even if the OB is stripped right down into parts , the marked part will still bear the DNA print (hopefully)

 

[Greemble]

It's a good job no thief ever sees these promotions and can't buy any UV lights...

 

[mjcoon]

Whereas in Greece we "lost" our tender and outboard from our charter yacht when we were at anchor in a populated harbour. We spent ages hunting for it, despite not believing that a permanent knot used for towing the dinghy behind the yacht had "come undone". So the loss was reported to the Police. And lo and behold it was later recovered and we were obliged to pay a "finder's fee". Which, you can imagine, we were sure was more like a ransom!

 

[colind3782]

This seems similar to Smartwater which I have on all my nickable stuff at home. The local plod seem to think it drastically reduces opportunist crime when the scrotes see the sticker and greatly improves the chances of recovery if nicked.

Home - SmartWater Shop

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's rarely the scroat that nicked the stuff in the first place that gets collared it's the unsuspecting naive fool that bought it in a pub or boat jumble that has to try to explain that he bought it and didn't nick it in the extremely remote chance plod falls over it looking for someone or something else because you can be sure he won't be looking for a stolen outboard.

 

[mjcoon]

It's rarely the scroat that nicked the stuff in the first place that gets collared it's the unsuspecting naive fool that bought it in a pub or boat jumble that has to try to explain that he bought it and didn't nick it in the extremely remote chance plod falls over it looking for someone or something else because you can be sure he won't be looking for a stolen outboard.

Maybe there's not much point for paying for SmartWater etc unless, having had something stolen, you are prepared to wander around local boat jumbles with your UV torch looking for anything familiar...

 

[Blueboatman]

What does work is to get a welder to weld a post code or sommat prominently onto the aluminium leg.

And/or in the case of plastic parts cowlings etc , a soldering iron is quite good to ‘write’ something ..

In the Caribbean I saw ‘ ?‍You Teef, I kill?‍‘ , on a big scruffy Yamaha Enduro?

I used to mark -sob, boohoo, ruination- the postcode across the face of the mountable electronics , the tiller pilot etc when I had a boat on a swinging mooring ..stuff tended to be flogged at boatjumbles not shipped abroad in a container back then.
Buggers the second hand value though ?

 

[Adios]

Can’t help but wonder if the police enthusiasm for this would be related to people smuggling. If an engine turns up on a migrant boat theres a chance to trace from owner to the people smuggler. Or where it was stolen from at least. Its a bit big brother but like all these big brother things they can be useful in a way

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Can’t help but wonder if the police enthusiasm for this would be related to people smuggling. If an engine turns up on a migrant boat theres a chance to trace from owner to the people smuggler. Or where it was stolen from at least. Its a bit big brother but like all these big brother things they can be useful in a way

The boats and engines originate in France and make one way trips and are disposable.

 

[Adios]

The boats and engines originate in France and make one way trips and are disposable.

There have been plenty of british people using their boats doing it. Plus the French
could be doing it there side as well (doubt they are bothered to of course). But if all previously untraceable engines are then traceable its surely going to help their efforts some of the time. Meetings with Priti must have been had where highly paid bods were supposed to come up with useful suggestions. Wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of them.

 

[Capt Popeye]

There have been plenty of british people using their boats doing it. Plus the French
could be doing it there side as well (doubt they are bothered to of course). But if all previously untraceable engines are then traceable its surely going to help their efforts some of the time. Meetings with Priti must have been had where highly paid bods were supposed to come up with useful suggestions. Wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of them.

Thats a very good point Mr A ; thses stolenOutboards might just have a History in them , where from , where to , stolen in this country or abroad ? Might think that if the Real people smugglers are NOT concerned abot what actually happens to their Used O/Boards after they have used them , there might be an underground system where the O/Boards are reused or sold on , somehow , maybe it could /will lead to illrgal activities ? Maybe any action on the stolen O/Boards is is a step forward ? So should we welcomed ?

 

[Adios]

Thats a very good point Mr A ; thses stolenOutboards might just have a History in them , where from , where to , stolen in this country or abroad ? Might think that if the Real people smugglers are NOT concerned abot what actually happens to their Used O/Boards after they have used them , there might be an underground system where the O/Boards are reused or sold on , somehow , maybe it could /will lead to illrgal activities ? Maybe any action on the stolen O/Boards is is a step forward ? So should we welcomed ?

Its got to help hasn't it, engine numbers are easily filed off but if they are all traceable still would make law enforcement job easier in a few ways. But then not sure how easy it is to wash off the DNA thing they use, criminals always find a way around things don't they. From their website "Our DNA is tested to PAS 820 and our Grade A External ranking is the highest in the industry. Even when applied outdoors it will protect your property for at least 5 years." So its not permanent but trying to clean it off it will be easy to miss one of the dots which would be all thats needed. Tempted to think it should start with the manufacturer hiding RFID chips in everything but then how much big brother do we want for the sake of crime reduction.