DutchNews.nl - Car thief caught by DNA spray

Car thief caught by DNA spray

Friday 19 March 2010

Police in The Hague have arrested a 17-year-old youth who was sprayed with a DNA marker liquid when he broke into a decoy car.

It is the first time someone has been arrested on the basis of contact with synthetic DNA, the Telegraaf said.

The decoy car was broken into on March 15, and the youth picked up shortly afterwards, the paper said. It did not say how police came to arrest him.

Once at the police station, ultra violet light showed the youth had been in contact with the DNA spray. He was also identified from video footage from a camera fitted to the car, the paper said.

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Readers' comments

Interesting that the cops can catch a theif so fast but not detect cop child killer perverts!

By SandraV. | March 19, 2010 2:24 PM

SandraV: yes, you're right, and they can't detect shoplifters, bank-robbers, wayward Catholic priest or terrorist so easily either... so, what's your point?

By Buzzer | March 19, 2010 3:49 PM

In the UK this is illegal, it's called entrapment.

By simplastic | March 19, 2010 4:55 PM

I second SandraV. comments. I have the same question for the Dutch police.

By Caycu | March 20, 2010 3:41 PM

@ buzzer, please do not forget the pedophiles infesting the hundreds of other crhistian faiths. How about those pedophile christian religions in the USA who marry off girls before puberty? It is not "entrapment" under UK law but nice try. As one who does not need the man made myths it is far past time to shutter all religious groups.

By Paul Martin | March 21, 2010 11:31 AM

Welcome to big brother country!

If the police want to use entrapment, it is their choice, we have no say in this matter: after all, it is supposed to become a sort of police state?

Phone tapping, email interception, spot checks on the street for ID or whatever are becoming common place here.

If the authorities give consent to the police to use entrapment, then it is their prerogative. Nothing you or I can do or say to change the way this tiny country is heading will be possible.

What ever new government the NL gets, has to be better than the current one, and hopefully nothing to do with religion, Amen!

By stevie | March 21, 2010 6:36 PM

I thought it was entrapment if they set you up to do it, ie said "Go steal that particular car!"
Operating on his own free will? How is that different from being caught on CCTV, except it provides more evidence than a blurry photo. It's why some of those magentic tags in shops have popping dye capsules: if you try to take the tag off with anything other than the proper equipment, you and the clothing are marked. They use to use it in back heists also. I speak from experience, as former clerk.

Maybe we should paint the kids with that stuff?

By whatwouldyourmothersay | March 22, 2010 8:33 PM

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