Crime Doesn’t Pay – DNA Authentication for Stolen Cash
While you might not think about it when making a withdrawal from the ATM or paying with cash at the local big-box store, the secure handling of large amounts of currency presents many challenges. Cash-in-transit (CIT) businesses transport and store cash and ATM cassettes. In the U.K. alone, there is an estimated Ł500 billion being transported each year, or Ł1.4 billion per day. The nature of this business makes cash-in-transit an attractive target for criminals. Cash-in-transit crimes are on the rise in the US and the UK (FBI and BSIA) and given the current state of the global economy, it is anticipated that these crimes will continue to rise.
In response to the rise in CIT crimes, sophisticated handling and transport systems have been developed. Gone is the era of tommy guns and canvas valises - the new age of CIT technology includes cash degradation systems containing unique taggants that link each note back to its source - DNA markers for banknotes. These systems bring a whole new dimension to cash degradation. A criminal caught in possession of stained notes containing DNA markers can be directly linked to a specific crime, leading to increased convictions of those responsible and acting as a strong deterrent to those contemplating the crime.
Evolved over eons, DNA specifies the individuality of living things. SigNature® DNA is now being used to specify the individuality of banknotes, helping to return stolen cash to its original owner. Given the plentitude of DNA sequences available, markers for every cash box can be easily provided, without ever reusing the same sequence.
Any stolen cash is stained with DNA, any criminals who come into contact with the cash are also stained with the DNA. This is a significant deterrent to criminals, as they stand a far greater chance of being convicted if they attempt a robbery where DNA is used as part of the cash degradation system. The use of SigNature® DNA, we believe is not only preventing crime from occurring, but are also leading to the arrest of those criminals that do commit an attack.
So as long as cash is king in our society, the need for secure currency handling and transport is essential. Successful arrests of cash-in-transit robbers, and the recovery of stolen money means that cash-in-transit crime no longer pays, at least in cash…
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