Burglars get unwanted Valentine's card

BURGLARS in a south London suburb are set to receive a special Valentine's Day card next week from a rather unwelcome admirer - the police.
As part of an operation to fight burglary in Croydon, the Metropolitan Police said it was fitting houses in hot spot neighbourhoods with anti-burglary forensic coding systems, known as Smartwater.

Known offenders in the area will meanwhile receive a card signed by Chief Superintendent Vicki Marr that reads on the front, "Thinking of you and what you do at this time of year".

Inside, the message turns more sinister: "Roses are red, violets are blue, when Smartwater is activated, it's over for you."
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The police said they had funded more than 50 Smartwater home kits, which have been given to repeat victims of burglary, with more to come online.

Greater patrols and other crime prevention methods had resulted in a 26 per cent drop in burglaries in the Croydon area in January compared with the same month in 2004, authorities said.

"As well as a total of 73 arrests made, we were able to gain police intelligence on criminal activity to prevent further crime being committed," Superintendent Nick Jupp said.