FUTURISTIC technology is going to make life tough for burglars across Kirklees.

From today, the police are using the latest crime-fighting technology - called SmartWater - to indelibly mark property in homes that may be vulnerable.

There were almost 4,000 burglaries across Kirklees in the 12 months up to May 31 and police are looking to use everything they can to reduce the toll.

SmartWater comes in a tiny bottle of fluid - but a very special one.

For the fluid contains a DNA which is unique to that bottle.

The fluid is dabbed on property throughout the house - ranging from widescreen TVs to tiny items of jewellery - and leaves this unique DNA on it for good.

If a thief picks the item up, the DNA will transfer to their hands and stay on them for days - no matter how many times they wash.

Each bottle of SmartWater is registered on a database, along with the address of the house where it was used.

If police find stolen property, it is scanned under ultra-violet light for the SmartWater mark.

If it shows up, the DNA code can be checked against the database and traced back to the victims.

This helps to prove where property was stolen from and is important evidence against the burglars.

Anyone arrested on suspicion of burglary will also be scanned. If SmartWater shows up, police will quickly know which house they have raided.

The police are now writing to people in areas of Huddersfield and Dewsbury which are thought to be particularly vulnerable to break-ins, offering to dab SmartWater in their homes for free.

Chief Insp Nadeem Butt, of Kirklees Community Safety Partnership, said: "The SmartWater comes in tiny bottles, smaller than nail polish bottles.

"Every bottle has a different DNA sample in it and so is unique to the house where it has been used."

He said that once the SmartWater was dabbed on something it was invisible, cannot be felt and does not smell.

So thieves will not know they are touching something which could link them to the crime.

In places which are highly vulnerable - such as schools - SmartWater can be put in a canister which sprays suspects as they walk through the door, getting on their clothes, skin and hair.

SmartWater has already slashed break-ins and repeat offences in other parts of the country.