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British Telecom (BT) has been facing the problem of copper theft for many months now. As the economy becomes worse, more and more thieves have started to target telecom companies (such as BT) in order to steal copper cables. By using GPS technology and teaming up with a company called SmartWater, BT aims to fight back at thieves.

SmartWater manufactures a clear liquid that resembles regular drinking water. Each liquid that the company manufactures is unique, and each bottle of SmartWater contains a specific “chemical code” that is registered to one user. If an object that has been dabbed with SmartWater is stolen, police can determine who the object belongs to by using an ultraviolet light. BT plans to use SmartWater technology in conjunction with GPS anti-theft devices in order to stop metal thieves.

Most telecom cables contain copper, which can be sold at a high price. Until this point, metal thieves have been able to easily steal cables costing companies such as BT millions of dollars. Not only is this type of theft costly for cable companies, but it also affects “…the millions of people who rely on access to phones and broadband… (Bernie Auguste, Head of BT Security).”  Using GPS technology, police can track a stolen object. Once the object has been located, SmartWater will allow police to positively identify an object’s owner.

GPS tracking technology can be used on its own, or it can be teamed up with other innovative technologies such as SmartWater. SmartWater is a relatively new technology that is available to both consumers and businesses. BT has unleashed its massive anti-theft plan on thieves all around Britain, and so far the results have been positive. As more and more thieves look for unique objects to steal, GPS technology has become invaluable to companies and individuals alike.

(Written by Harriette Halepis for Rocky Mountain Tracking. Source acquired via Fresh Business Thinking, August 20, 2010, England)