I-Team: For law enforcement, something is in the water

VALPARAISO, Ind. (WLS) -- The I-Team investigates a new crime-fighting tool that you dab on. It's a high-tech liquid that leaves behind an invisible DNA-like signature on valuables and the crooks who touch them. It's known in law enforcement circles as "forensic asset marking."

Backers say these vials of liquid are the future of crime prevention and some police departments are starting to sign on. But, legal experts warn, there's no guarantee this liquid law enforcement will hold up in court.

It's a curious concoction, described as a harmless water-based solution containing a mixture of rare earth metals and microscopic dots imprinted with serial numbers. This is Smartwater CSI, not to be confused with a bottled drinking water sporting a similar name.

This liquid is for marking valuables such as an iPhone or watch. The manufacturer says the solution leaves behind your own personal code, assigned to the vial you purchase and guaranteed to last five years. That code is entered into a law enforcement database.

"Contains a unique signature that is only one in a billion --in other words you have this and it's your signature alone," said Logan Pierson, president, Smartwater CSI. "So if a bad guy were to take one of your items it can be 100% accurately shown that that item belongs to you."

It dries almost invisible. But a black light reveals a florescent glow where the item has been marked. If an item is stolen and recovered, police would swipe the invisible water mark and send the results to the company so the goods could be identified.

"You are pioneers," said Sheriff David Lain, Porter County, Indiana.

The Porter County Sheriff's Department in northwest Indiana is one of the first police agencies in the nation investing in Smartwater CSI. Sheriff Lain says he used proceeds from the jail commissary to purchase 150 vials of the product at a cost of $35 each.

The ABC7 I-Team was on hand as the first smartwater kits were distributed to area seniors. Laura Harting wasted no time marking her property. Her original TV was taken when she was burglarized six years ago.

"I'll feel more comfortable having it marked," said Harting.

It's being marketed as a powerful deterrent. Signs and stickers will go up, warning would-be thieves.

"It's going to make it less likely you will be targeted by the idiots that are running around taking things that don't' belong to them," said Lain.

The product also comes in spray form. During an undercover sting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., a decoy vehicle is equipped with the spray version which deploys when an alarm is tripped.

"He opens the door he grabs something on the front seat and then he starts to rifle through a wallet and that is when a smart water agent sprays him," said DeAnna Greenlaw, Ft. Lauderdale Police Department.

The suspect, whose name is Michael Jackson, is arrested. Police recognize him from the video.

"They examined him with a black light and detected he had Smartwater on his clothing and skin," said the judge during arraignment.

Jackson is pleading not guilty to burglary in a case that could be the nation's first legal test of this new crime-fighting tool.

"I think it's got a long way to go before it's admissible in court, not only because of the question of scientific value, uh, but also because I'm not convinced the prosecutor can show the direct connection between the residue and the object stolen," said Hugh Mundy, law professor, John Marshall Law School.

The makers of Smartwater CSI say their product has resulted in 1,200 convictions overseas. They welcome the test here in the U.S. court system.

For now, Porter County only has plans to use the solution to mark valuables, not suspects.