Police In Delaware Offer DNA-Based Property Protection

By David Madden

NEW CASTLE, Del., (CBS) -- For years police departments have offered security engraving to be able to track items that are stolen when, and if, police every recover them. Now police in Northern Delaware are offering a new service that marks those items with DNA material.

Not YOUR DNA, mind you.

New Castle County is teaming up with a company called Applied DNA Sciences. Residents can go online and purchase a fingernail polish-sized bottle of liquid containing uniquely developed houseplant DNA.

It costs 70 bucks but that investment could prove priceless.

New Castle County police Corporal Tracey Duffy tells KYW Newsradio, "It sticks to whatever small as a piece of jewelry to items in your car or your car to mark their property in the event that it's stolen."

Two dozen officers have been trained to know where to find the DNA coding on marked items with the use of special lightning.

Duffy says a bottle could allow someone to mark up to 150 items with that individually assigned DNA pattern. And the kit comes with stickers a homeowner can use to warn burglars that the product is in use.

Residents of New Castle County can purchase the product on line through the company at www.adnas.com.