Applied DNA Sciences Fighting International Gang Collaboration for Car Theft in Europe
May 15 2017 - 7:57AM
Business Wire
Security Intelligence Provided to Global
Police
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (“Applied DNA”)(NASDAQ:APDN), a
provider of DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting and
anti-theft technology, product genotyping and DNA mass production
for diagnostics, is helping break up international gangs of car
thieves.
BMW implemented a mandatory DNA marking program in Sweden for
new vehicles in February 2016. Supported by multiple insurance
brands, the program has proven effective in curbing thefts by over
80% and facilitating prosecution of "chop shop" criminals. To gangs
with international distribution networks, the collective value of a
chopped car’s components can be worth more than the car previously
sold as new and intact. Once marked with SigNature® DNA, components
can be traced back to a specific vehicle, and there have been
numerous cases where this has assisted police already.
A recent investigation revealed that of 60 stolen car parts
found in Lithuania, 17 were marked with SmartDNA (the Scandinavian
brand of SigNature DNA) and so could be traced back to their source
and original owner.
According to SmartDNA's Leif Svensson, the creation of this
program was necessitated by the increasing rate of car part theft
in Sweden.
"Last year alone, our country was due to start about 3 thousand
pre-trial investigations for car theft. And in each case, the
victim's or insurance company's losses amounted to between 15 and
20 thousand euros. Therefore, it was decided to spare no investment
in new technologies - mandatory for all new BMW cars and marking
systems," said Svensson, highlighting the fact that Swedish
authorities detained 39 Lithuanians for car part theft in 2016.
"This is the message to thieves…DNA technology will be available
anywhere, because the police are without borders,"
stated Aleksejus Gubenko, Kaunas County Police 3rd
Division Chief. Gubenko demonstrated the technology at a media
conference, and explained how their colleagues from Sweden donated
equipment that will become an antidote for various forms of
theft.
Tony Benson, Managing Director for Applied DNA Sciences Europe,
further added: “It is well known that stolen car parts are shipped
around the world and often sold on the internet at a bargain price.
When customers purchase our SigNature DNA marker they are also
buying a security intelligence service, since when stolen car parts
are recovered we carry out forensic analysis and map where the
items are stolen from and the location they were found, and so
build up an intelligence picture which we then share with law
enforcement agencies enabling them to capture not only the initial
car thieves but the whole international criminal supply chain. To
give you an idea of the scale of our security intelligence, we have
carried out forensic analysis on thousands of items recovered by
law enforcement agencies enabling the imprisonment of 114
individuals who have received prison sentences of over 540 years
with many more cases in the pipeline which makes a significant
difference.”
Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA stated:
“Imagine the irony of a bargain-hunting car enthusiast, hunting the
web for bargain “original parts” that do not void the
manufacturer’s warrantee. These are original, but stolen parts that
are likely abused as they traverse the criminal supply chain.
Worse, the system promulgates collaboration in gang-based
enterprises that can fund other activities with more deleterious
impact on humanity.”
Source: Kauno Diena
About Applied DNA Sciences
Applied DNA Sciences makes life real and safe by providing
innovative, molecular-based technology solutions and services that
can help protect products, brands, entire supply chains, and
intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from
theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. The proprietary
DNA-based “CertainTTM” platform can be used to identify, tag,
track, and trace products, to help assure authenticity, origin,
traceability and quality of products. SigNature® DNA describes the
core technology ingredient that is at the heart of a family of
uncopyable, security and authentication solutions such as
SigNature® T and fiberTyping®, targeted toward textiles and
apparel, BackTrac™and DNAnet®, for anti-theft and loss prevention,
and digitalDNA®, providing powerful track- and-trace. All provide a
forensic chain of evidence, and can be used to prosecute
perpetrators. Applied DNA Sciences is also engaged in the
large-scale production of specific DNA sequences using the
polymerase chain reaction.
Go to adnas.com for more information, events and to learn more
about how Applied DNA Sciences makes life real and safe. Common
stock listed on NASDAQ under the symbol APDN, and warrants are
listed under the symbol APDNW.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements made by APDN in this press release may be
“forward-looking” in nature within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
describe APDN’s future plans, projections, strategies and
expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of
APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected
due to our short operating history, limited financial resources,
limited market acceptance, market competition and various other
factors detailed from time to time in APDN’s SEC reports and
filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December
6, 2016, and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on
February 9, 2017, and May 11, 2017 which are available at
www.sec.gov. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or
circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events, unless otherwise required by law.
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Investors:Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.Debbie Bailey,
631-240-8817debbie.bailey@adnas.comorMedia:Dian Griesel
Int’l.Susan Forman,
212-825-3210sforman@dgicomm.comorProgram:Applied DNA
Sciences, Inc.Tony Benson, +44-7552-429341Managing Director,
EMEAtony.benson@adnas.comorGordon Hope, 631-240-8850Director of
Security
Solutionsgordon.hope@adnas.comweb: www.adnas.comtwitter:
@APDN
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