Milestone Co-Founder Invests In Anti Theft Spray SelectaDNA

By Brian Rhodes, Published on Sep 06, 2018

Milestone's Co-Founder Henrik Friborg [link no longer available] has invested in CSI Protect, exclusive US dealer of forensic marking startup SelectaDNA, a company that claims to "reduce burglaries by up to 83%" by spraying identification onto thieves as they flee. And the startup has now integrated with Milestone's VMS.

But what is SelectaDNA and is it something worth using and worth offering by integrators? In this note, based on interviewing SelectaDNA we review their use case, potential issues and best fits.

Spraying ******** / *********

*** *********'* ************** ** ***** ***** is ** ***** ******** with * ***-******* ********* solution **** ** ******** by ** ******. ** suspected ******* **** ******* doors, * ******** ********* mists ****. 

**** ******** ****** ** washed *** ******** '*** a ****** ** *****' says *** *******, ** when ****** ********** ** capture *** *******, * quick ***** ***** ***** 'proves' **** **** ** the *****.

*** *******'* ***** ***** overviews *** ******:

** ***** ** *** system, *** ***-***** '********* DNA' ** ******* ** the ***** *** ***** bodies ** ***** ******* through *** ****. *** company **** *** ******** looks **** *** ********* under ** *****:

Deterence ****

*** ******* '**********' ******* the ****** ****** ** extensive *** ********* ******* disclosing *** ****** ** installed ** *****. 

*** ******* ** *** visible ********** *********** ***** by ****** * ********** arrest ****-***** ******** ** involvement, *** **** ******* will ****** ***** *** area ** **** ** to ******-********* ******* ** a ******** ******* ** the ******* ******** ** ******** ***** *** ********.

*** ******* ******** ********** as *** *** ***** of *** ******:

'**** ********* **** *** deterrence ****** *** ****’* why *** ******* ** an ********* *******. ** have ***** **** **** small **** ***** ** some ***** *******', *.*.

Milestone ***********

*** ********* ********** **** deeper **** **-******* **********. The *** ****** ** also ********** **** **********'* dispensers *** ******** ****** trigger, *** *** ** activated ** ***** ********* in ******** ** ** alarm.

*** ******* ********* *** Milestone *********** ** *** example ** ** '******** security ****** ***********' ******** they ***** ************** ** from ***********:

'*** ***** *********** ** have ****, ** * simple *********** **** *********. Our ******** ****** ** partnerships. *** ******* **** an ***** ********* ** product ** *** ******** security ********. ****** *** facing ********* ********, **** with ***** ***** *** others **** *********.'

SelectaDNA ****

*** ****** **** ****** based ** *** **** exits *** *******, *** the ******* ***** ** prices ***** ** "$**.**/*****, which ******** *** ******, initial ******** *** ******* support, ****** *********** *** canister ******* ($***), ******** of *** ***********" ** detect/recognize *** ** *****.

*** ******-*** '********** *********' that **** $*** **** are ***** ******* ******* dispensers **** *** **** plastic *** ******** ***** doors, ** *** ** recessed **** ********:

*** **** ******* ***** retailers, * ****** *********** cost **** ******** ** several ******* ******* *** site, *** *****.

High-Cost ********** *** *********** *****

*** ****, * ******-*** $300 **** ******** **** be *** ****** ** protect *****-****** ********* **** food *** ***** ********* items **** ***********. **** the ********** ******* ** prosecution ** ********, **** retailers *** ***** ** use *********** ****-********** ******* like *** ******* *** video ** ****** *****.

*******, ** *** ******'* deterrence ***** ****** *** lower ***** *** ********** losses ** ~**%, *** system ******* *** **** than ******* *****, **** for ********* ** ***-***** merchandise **** *********** ******. 

** *******, *** ****** is ****** ** ******* for ************ **** ****-*****, easy ** ***** *********** where *********** ***** ******* like ********** ******* ************ (EAS) ** *** ****, but ***** ***** ***** are ***** ********** ** triggering ******* **** ********** misters.

System ******** ** *****?

* *** ********* **** to ****** ************* **** be ******* *********** ********** via **** ******** ** wearing *****/*********/********** ** ***** the **** ** **** pass ******* *****, **** discard **** ***** **** their ******* ** ***** retaining *** ******** ** exposure ****** ******* ****** later.

*******, ********** ***** ** this ** ******** ** how **** ********* ********* are ****, ******* **:

'*** ***** ****** ****** a ***** ******* ** the ********, **** **** showing *********seldom ** *** **** *** ******** ** ***** ****. In a scenario where DNA solution is only on clothing, law enforcement can link the DNA-marked clothing to human DNA on the clothing.' [Emphasis ours]

Unknown *********** ****

******* ******* ** *** criminals ******* ** **** realize **** **** **** sprayed, ********** ** **** are ******** *** ****** of *** ****** **** the **** ********.

****** ******, ***** *** has ****** ******** ******* to ****, ******** *** more ******* ********* ** North *******. *** **** is **** ** ***** criminal ** *******, ** may ****** '********* ****' back ** ***** ********* or **********.

***********

********** ** *** *** only ***** ************** ****** in *** ******, **** including ******* ******** ****:

**** **** *** **** enough ***** **** ***** to ******** *** *********** differentiation ** *** ********.

Poll / ****

 

 

Comments (18)

Undisclosed #1

09/06/18 03:45pm

But the police still need to identify and apprehend the suspect (as the article notes). So this covers the edge case where you have identified and arrested a suspect, but they have some form of plausible deniability (despite likely being on video, having distinctive tattoos or clothing, etc)?

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 09/28/18 11:38am

It gives LEA's a tool to indisputable determine if the suspect was at the crime scene or not. If they shine blue under UV light, they have been sprayed.

The DNA and UV tracer stay on the skin for 4-6 weeks and on clothes even longer.

It's very much a deterrent product and it's aim is to prevent the incident from happening in the first place.

IPVM note: Employee of CSI Protect

 

 

Chalon Dilber

09/06/18 03:54pm

So, if there's no panic button activation or alarm signal generation then the spray does not activate?

If system is activated, does it spray everyone that goes through the door including people/customers in the store who exit prior to the perpetrator(s)?  The police who come in?  When does it stop spraying?

If the perpetrator breaks a window/glass to exit, or there are lots of exit points and not all are covered with spray cylinders you're out of luck?

If deterrence is the main value, it seems like printing and posting up your own scary blue man group sign with similar warnings would get you past the Pareto threshold.

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Chalon Dilber | 09/28/18 11:53am

The system can be activated in a number of ways. It can be a motion detector that is activated by panic button, money clip, RFID etc. We have thousands of installations in more than 40 countries worldvide so this is not a new product. Also, we have been on the US market for more than 3 years and never experienced a system not being activated when there was an incident.

Also, it can be a stan-alone system or integrated with existing alarm system.

Until the system is de-activated it will spray anyone who moves in the area you want to control (exit etc). System is easily de-activated.

Please note that it is a WATER based technology, so it is harmless to everyone who comes in contact with it

Each burst can be set to anything between 1 sec and 5 sec.

You can ad as many Spray heads you want - but obviously it's probably not viable to cover all windows. But the motion detector will ensure that the system will spray if theres is activity in the area it's set to monitor.

Yes, deterrence is what it's all about + placing a marker on the perpetrator if they decide to take the chance anyway.

IPVM note: Employee of CSI Protect

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 09/06/18 03:59pm

So, if there's no panic button activation or alarm signal generation then the spray does not activate?

This is correct.

If system is activated, does it spray everyone that goes through the door including people/customers in the store who exit prior to the perpetrator(s)? The police who come in? When does it stop spraying?

The company tells us a canister sprays a max of 4 seconds once triggered, but it does spray indiscriminately.

If the perpetrator breaks a window/glass to exit, or there are lots of exit points and not all are covered with spray cylinders you're out of luck?

Correct, but I think SelectaDNA is intended to be a deterrent for typical 'grab & dash' type thefts.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

09/06/18 07:03pm

Wonder about potential liability issues?  "Hey, I got sprayed and I am filing a lawsuit claiming chemical contamination!"

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 09/28/18 11:54am

it's a water based solution, so it's harmless.

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 11/15/18 07:12am

Good point - but it's a water-based solution so harmless to humans and animals.

We have been on the US market for +3 years and no claims have been made. Internationally we have been active in + 10 years and we have installed thousands of systems and no claims in any market.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

09/06/18 07:27pm

How does it know when to spray? 

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 09/06/18 07:30pm

It is manually triggered via RFID button or perhaps software trigger output.

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 09/28/18 11:55am

The system can be activated in a number of ways. It can be a motion detector that is activated by panic button, money clip, RFID etc. We have thousands of installations in more than 40 countries worldvide so this is not a new product. Also, we have been on the US market for more than 3 years and never experienced a system not being activated when there was an incident.

Also, it can be a stan-alone system or integrated with existing alarm system.

IPVM note: Employee of CSI Protect

Undisclosed Integrator #4

09/06/18 09:41pm

i have some reservations about the viability of this product. If it really is a 4 second window of time from activation to depletion of product, i see that as a large issue in deployment. That is a very small window of time.

Also, it was said that the lab never reproduces the “dna” code but did not state whether Or not it could be reproduce by a third party. If it can be reproduced/reverse engineered by a third party, it loses any value in placing a suspect at the specific scene of a crime. A lawyer would be able to provide reasonable doubt with that bit alone. 

Its a cool idea but needs better deployment. 

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/28/18 12:12pm

There is no delay - it will spray immediately. The 4 seconds that are mentioned is the duration of each burst. However, this can be changed to anything between 1 & 5 second per burst.

It's a unique DNA in each canister - also it is a patent technology that can't be reproduced by a 3'rd party.

You are absolutely right - it has to be 100% unique - and it is. Each DNA code can only be used once.

IPVM note: Employee of CSI Protect

Undisclosed Integrator #5

09/07/18 09:59pm

There are better use cases like if a jewelry box is opened on alarm or cash at banks is stolen the dna will be sprayed on the stolen items. If ever retrieved it can be matched to the crime scene. Spraying a burglar is really not that great of an idea.

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 09/28/18 12:00pm

Good point.

However, with no's showing a reduction of anywhere between 65-80% in incidents when deployed in retail stores & banks, I think it's fair to say that it's pretty effective. 

We have other products to mark belongings - same DNA technology just different way of applying it.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
09/10/18 12:29pm

So the canister is a once use dosage at $300 a pop? You better be selling some high end gear to justify that hit. Not to mention, you have to be aware of the theft to begin with. Then you have to still figure out who the perps are and track them down. Im not sure where this would be very useful even if it wasn’t crazy expensive. 

Avatar

Kristian Brandt

| 09/28/18 12:08pm

Please see previous answers to some of your concerns.

If you look at it strictly from a cost perspective and not considering the damage a robbery incident will have on the employees and customers, not to mention the challenge it will be to get attract new employees, then it's still a solution to consider.

A typical robbery at a small convenience store will have a cost for the owner of several thousand $ (not less than $ 10.000 everything considered).

However, it's the deterrent that is the real goal - we want the incident not to happen in the frist place.

The $ 300 is a annual fee to replace the canister - also, if there is an incident and the canister is activated, it also needs to be replaced.

Each canister is unique and can not be duplicated by 3'rd party.

IPVM note: Employee of CSI Protect

Undisclosed #6

IPVMU Certified | 11/15/18 08:30am

Of course this is nothing that hadn’t been anticipated years ago by “Ted and the lab boys”:

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