Crime-fighting project targets computer theft

JOY ORLEK BUSINESS AGAINST Crime has identified computer theft as a priority focus and is currently working with the industry to formulate a national strategy to combat the problem. It’s a relatively new project, says BAC project director organised crime, Dr Graham Wright, and is in the initial stage of information gathering – this provides an understanding of the extent of the problem after which an approach can be formulated. The idea is to look at the whole context - the modus operandi, how the goods are distributed, the market and how that market can be reduced. One of the options that could be considered is the feasibility of marking the product, says Wright. “The best method of preventing any item from being stolen is to make it identifiable,” says project manager organised crime, Lorinda Nel, “because the moment you cannot identify it, the item can be traded.” It’s an area in which BAC has done a lot of work. “It’s such a fundamental issue,” says Wright. “If we can identify products that have been stolen it also allows law enforcement to take its course.”