Thousands of pounds have been coughed up in a bid to reduce burglary.

Enfield Borough Council has spent £18,000 on a property marking liquid, called SmartWater.

The invisible liquid is said to help trace an item if it has been stolen and can be returned to its rightful owner with each liquid having its own signature.

Prosecutions involving evidence gleaned from SmartWater have a 100 per cent prosecution rate.

Detective Inspector Greg Coates said: "I am delighted Enfield Council has taken the decision to invest in this product, which will greatly enhance our ability to trace property, prosecute offenders and thereby safeguard residents against burglary.

"We have jointly decided to roll this out through Neighbourhood Watch, and I would encourage all residents interested starting or joining a watch to contact their dedicated ward officer."

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety Councillor Chris Bond said: "Christmas is a time to be happy and not jolly annoyed that someone has broken into your house and stolen your prized possessions, so we’d urge residents to take sensible precautions to ensure they have an enjoyable festive season.

"Using SmartWater is a great way of protecting your property and it is a known deterrent for burglars who know that if they get caught handling items marked with it, they are probably going to go to jail. We’ve purchased a massive batch so thousands of residents can have peace of mind this Christmas that their possessions are safe."

The council has bought 750 property marking kits and anyone wanting to get their hands on the liquid should contact their ward officer.