Green Liquid: Thief Caught By Hi-Tech Trap

Ultraviolet scans showed his face was marked with SmartWater liquid - which is invisible, but stays on the skin for weeks.

Askale's face was stained by the invisible and odourless liquid

A thief caught by a new police trap that turned his face bright green under ultraviolet light has been convicted of stealing from a car.

Yafet Askale, 28, was sprayed with an invisible dye when he broke into a "trap car" in Harlesden in northwest London in June.
Police traced him and found him holding items stolen from inside the vehicle, including a laptop computer.

The liquid stays on the skin for weeks

Ultraviolet scans showed his face and jacket were marked with SmartWater liquid - which is odourless and invisible to the eye, but stays on
the skin for weeks.
Askale, from Harlesden Gardens, Harlesden, was found guilty of a charge of theft from a motor vehicle after a trial at Hendon Magistrates' Court.
He was sentenced to 49 hours of community work and ordered to pay £400 costs.
Brent Police has been trialling SmartWater devices in cars and houses in the area.
Residents have been provided with free kits to mark valuable property, which the police claim has resulted in an 80% fall in burglary and a 40% reduction in street robbery.
Detective Inspector Madeline Ryder said: "Using the trap car technology, we were able to charge Askale and put him before the courts.
"We will continue to target those who are insistent on committing these types of offences.
"Brent Police say very clearly to any would be thieves - don't come to Brent, our trap cars and trap houses are waiting for you."