Crime Stoppers back new technology in lead up to Xmas
Sydney, Australia – December 1, 2008: In the lead up to Christmas, purchasers of bicycles will for the first time be able to use a micro-dot technology to help prevent theft and identify their bicycles if they are stolen.
From this week, 800 leading bicycle retailers across Australia will stock a $25 do-it-yourself DatadotDNA property marking technology.
The technology is already being used in Australia around the world to help prevent theft of luxury cars and identify stolen parts in brands including SAAB, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, VW, Audi, Lexus and Lotus.
Crime Stoppers Australia Chairman Mr Peter Price said the organization had entered into an arrangement with Sydney-based public company DataDot Technology Limited that would encourage Australians to register their bicycles marked with microdots.
“Under this initiative, for about $25 Australians will be able to buy microscopic DatadotDNA dots to place on their bikes,” Mr Price said. “In addition a DatadotDNA decal can be placed on their bikes to show they are protected.”
About 1.1 million bicycles are sold in Australia each year with specialist outlets stocking models worth between $200 and $14,000.
Mr Simon Jackson, DataDot Technology’s project manager on the initiative, said the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics research found bicycles were among the top five stolen items in every Sydney suburb and believed this would be also be the case nationwide.
Crime Stoppers Australia chairman Mr Price confirmed that each year thousands of bikes go ‘missing’. “The exact figure is not tracked by authorities, but hopefully with this initiative metrics can be kept.”
Bicycle owners who buy the kit can register their bikes free on a database at www.datadotdna.com/bicycle
“If a stolen bike with Datadots is found there is a good chance you will get it back,” Mr Price said. “The identifying technology also helps police convict thieves who might otherwise claim the property in their possession was not stolen.”
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Simon Jackson, DataDot Technology, 0419 418 772, www.datadotdna.com;
Peter Price, Crime Stoppers Australia: 0417 996 600
