SmartWater CSI Helps Fla. Agency Arrest Burglar

The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Police Department arrested a local burglar using SmartWater CSI evidence marking liquid during a police sting earlier this month, according to the company.

Michael Jackson, who has been charged with one count of burglary conveyance unoccupied, was caught and charged on July 6. Following his arrest, Fort Lauderdale PD officers scanned Jackson under ultraviolet light, which revealed he had SmartWater on his clothing and skin.

The Fort Lauderdale PD introduced SmartWater in the South Middle River neighborhood earlier this year and has recorded a 35 percent reduction in theft. The Riviera Beach (Fla.) Police Department introduced SmartWater to businesses in late June.  SmartWater has been widely used in the United Kingdom for the past 16 years and has been credited with more than 1,200 convictions.

According to the Fort Lauderdale PD, members from the Criminal Investigations Division and the Special Investigations Division Technical Services Unit strategically equipped a decoy vehicle with video surveillance, an alarm, and SmartWater CSI.

At approximately 8:40 a.m. on July 6, officers were notified that the alarm on the decoy vehicle had been activated. Officers responded to the scene and confirmed that the decoy vehicle had been burglarized and the SmartWater CSI agent deployed.

Property crime detectives reviewed the surveillance captured from inside the decoy vehicle and identified the suspect.  A department-wide alert was issued for the suspect and he was subsequently located. When detectives responded to the scene, they immediately identified the suspect from the surveillance footage. Upon utilizing a black light, the presence of SmartWater CSI was observed throughout the suspect's clothing and skin.

View the surveillance clip here .