CRIMEFIGHTERS in Wear Valley have recruited an invisible ally to help reduce theft and recover stolen goods.

They are marking property with a coating of a clear solution called Smart Water which they hope will be thief-proof because it cannot be detected without special equipment.

When SmartWater is painted on to items, each brush stroke contains millions of microscopic particles encoded with the owner's details.

Police use an ultra-violet light to locate the coating and conduct a simple test to reveal the unique identification number.

Details are kept on a database with the Forensic Science Service who operate a 24-hour helpline for police officers.

In Wear Valley, where a high proportion of thefts are drug-related, a pilot scheme funded by Communities Against Drugs is targeting the Woodhouse Close Estate as well as repeat victims.

The project follows an exercise in schools, where thefts have been dramatically reduced.

It was launched by district council chairman Margaret Pinkney at Crook Civic Centre.

Elaine Baker, the district's community safety co-ordinator, said: "As well as giving us a much greater chance of getting the perpetrators convicted, Smart Water is also an excellent deterrent.

"Some schools were suffering four of five burglaries a week. This has now reduced to virtually nil."