Sounds like SmartWater, it's already pretty common. You can buy it for your house too. Each client gets "water" chemically coded to them, it shows up under a special light so if stolen goods are found it can be sent off and tested to match it to the owner.
If I remember correctly, it's very difficult to remove from goods as it can be used outside on things that get soaked etc.
Section One - What is SmartWater?
How does SmartWater work?
SmartWater is a forensic liquid that assigns your valuables with their own unique forensic code, allowing them to be traced back to you. Because the Police regularly check for SmartWater and actively raise awareness of it, SmartWater is known throughout the criminal fraternity. Because of SmartWater’s infrastructure within Police Authorities criminals will statistically avoid anything that bares our logo and will not risk challenging our 100% conviction rate. By displaying SmartWater deterrent stickers on your windows and doors you are sending out a powerful warning to any would-be thieves.
How can property be traced back to me?
Your SmartWater forensic solution carries a chemical code which is unique to you – we never make the same SmartWater code twice. The SmartWater chemical code within your solution, together with your name and address details, are stored on our off-line secure database, which is maintained to the highest international standards of ISO27001. Should any of your valuables be stolen and subsequently recovered by the Police, our forensic scientists can analyse traces of SmartWater on the item to identify the chemical code. This is then checked against our database thus establishing its true owner.
What sort of items can you mark with SmartWater?
SmartWater is a generic system and can be used to code virtually any household item – from a wedding ring to an LCD TV to a lawnmower.
Can SmartWater be used outdoors?
Yes. SmartWater is extremely robust and is able to withstand long term direct exposure to sunlight. SmartWater’s Home and Possessions system comes with a 5 year warranty when used on any outdoor items. Please make sure you carefully read the Application Guidelines supplied with your SmartWater system.
Why can’t I just use a UV pen to mark my property?
Unlike SmartWater, UV pens do not offer a secure solution for marking property and have two major flaws. Firstly UV pens can only be used if there is a suitable surface area on which to write your details, which is problematic for jewellery and other small items. Secondly, there is nothing to stop a thief from striking through a postcode or any other identifying markings with another UV pen, thus erasing any link back to the true owner
