McDonald's nabs robbers by spraying them with DNA

A police officer and a chemist in the UK developed an invisible spray that douses intruders when there has been a security breach

By PoliceOne Staff

SYDNEY, Australia — McDonald's locations in Australia are spraying invisible DNA at suspected robbers to heighten security.

A police officer and a chemist in the UK developed SelectaDNA, which douses intruders when there has been a security breach, Adelaide Now reported. Because the synthetic DNA solution — invisible to the naked eye, but visible under a UV light — stays on clothes for up to six months and on skin for up to two weeks, police can link the offender back to the scene, sources said.

Theft is a serious problem for McDonald's and other fast food restaurants, according to the Sunday Telegraph, which cited high cash turnover, multiple entry and exit points and staff who work through the night as possible reasons why one outlet in Sydney saw two hold-ups during one week in September.

SelectaDNA says the system is more about prevention than arrests, but is "perfectly safe to deploy," according to SelectaDNA director David Morrissey, and if proven successful, will be introduced to all 780 Australian McDonald's.