Thieves Beware
Crimebusting Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is targeting thieves who are breaking into their properties to steal copper pipes.
The Trust is continuing to deploy SmartWater as a deterrent against metal thieves who are specifically targeting empty properties belonging to the Trust.
CDHT is working in partnership with Cheshire Police and can point to a successful conclusion using SmartWater in a Trust owned property in the Blacon area which resulted in property marked with the chemical being recovered and the offender arrested, charged and convicted of burglary.
SmartWater is a colourless liquid which when used to mark property will transfer to any offending thieves linking them to the crime scene; CDHT has used SmartWater in their properties since 2009. The chemical is a forensically-coded liquid and like DNA, each batch produced is unique. The substance is invisible to the naked eye but is identifiable in ultraviolet light. SmartWater also remains on skin, hair and clothing for months and will not wash off.
Pat Cullen, CDHT Community Safety Coordinator, said:
“Thieves who enter Trust properties as trespassers to steal should be in no doubt that robust action will be taken against them by the Trust, who will work with the Police to arrest those responsible and authorise their prosecution through the Courts. Offenders who are tenants of the Trust will also be dealt with for breaching their tenancy agreements action that could result in offenders losing their home.”
More info at www.SmartWater.com
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CAPTIONS (L-R):
CDHT’s Ron Jones, Neighbourhood Services Team Leader and Pat Cullen, Community Safety Coordinator, are taking a tough stance on crime
Notes to editors
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is a dynamic and enterprising organisation at the forefront of delivering positive impacts in the communities with which it works. The Trust’s homes span six communities – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
Committed to the best principles of social enterprise with over 14,000 local customers in 6,200 properties and 53% of its 275 colleagues living within its communities, the Trust adheres to key commitments and principles relating to people, places, partnerships and performance which underpin the Vision to ‘create opportunity’, through its mission, ‘by doing the right thing’.
The Trust is about being transparent and accountable in everything that is done and to this end is one of the first organisations nationally to have established a Residents’ Board, with full delegated powers from the Trust Board, to direct services which impact upon their lives.
The Trust has a comprehensive development programme delivering over 330 new homes including the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester providing new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
CDHT also provides services on a partnership basis, to a number of other customers e.g. Telecare services, TrustWorks Maintenance Services, Housing Options advice, waiting list management and choice based lettings to neighbouring local authorities and registered social landlords.
The Trust is rated as two Star excellent by the Audit Commission, has the highest possible rating from Telecare Services Association and is also credited Investors in People and is the overall Employer of the Year For Cheshire West. It has been in the ‘Top 100 Sunday Times best companies to work for’ for the last four years, reaching its highest position of 27h this year.
For more details please visit www.cdht.org or request a copy of CDHT’s Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
CDHT Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood
E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk T: 01244 330000
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