SmartWater technology to help hauliers defeat catalytic converter thieves

AN innovative new anti-theft product developed by a Shropshire-based business is being made available to the commercial vehicle sector for the first time.

The crime deterrent power of SmartWater forensic marking has been around for several years but a new High Temperature Marker has now been developed by SmartWater Technology, for specific use on catalytic converters.

The precious metals in a typical catalytic converter have made them a popular target for thieves. Despite being worth only £100-£200 in resale value, replacement costs run into the thousands for motorists or fleet managers, in addition to the disruption caused to businesses by having vehicles off the road.

The SmartWater High Temperature Marker provides durable, long-term forensic traceability to catalytic converters and other vehicle exhaust components. Unlike other products which need regular re-application, the firm is targeting hauliers and other fleet operations because the application is guaranteed to last a minimum of five years or 100,000 miles if applied according to instructions.

While SmartWater has long been deployed in a variety of scenarios by organisations including BT Openreach, Network Rail, National Grid and G4S, this is the first time the forensic marking technology has been openly available to the commercial vehicle sector.

Each marking kit contains a unique code which is registered to an individual vehicle, providing undeniable traceability and a powerful deterrent to thieves.

Phil Cleary, SmartWater chief executive, said: “SmartWater’s High Temperature Marker has been thoroughly tested and proven to withstand the extremely high operating temperatures of catalytic converters and other exhaust system components. The identification of catalytic converters has historically represented a problem for the police, as without traceability it is very difficult for them to prosecute a suspected thief.”