Security System Sprays Intruders with Synthetic DNA

Security System Sprays Intruders with Synthetic DNA

Just when I thought I had seen it all, Subway, the “eat fresh” restaurant, is deploying a new type of security system in its thousands of franchisees across the nation. All I can say is: bring your umbrella!

Dubbed the Intruder Security System by SelectaDNA, a mechanism sits above the door, lying in wait for a robbery or violent crime. “Something,” (I assume this is top secret information) trips the mechanism and it releases a stream of traceable, synthetic DNA that supposedly lands on the perpetrator or offender. That person is then considered “marked” and will glow under ultraviolet light for up to 7 weeks. Oh and don’t worry; this “intruder spray” is shower-proof, so no matter how many times the perp bathes, apparently, he or she is stuck with it.

Each Subway location will have its own unique DNA code to mark and trace property and criminals in addition to warning signs to place in the windows and around the property. These signs are said to act as deterrents to would-be criminals.

As a side note, I came up with a similar idea when I taught: the “germ mister.” Simply place it above a door and as people walk through the door a mist of germ killer would rain down on the person, killing harmful germs. No more outbreaks of strep throat! Hmmm, I can actually see my idea coming to fruition. Maybe Shark Tank is in my future.

Image: JStone / Shutterstock.com

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • The Next Generation

    Video security technology has reached an inflection point. With advancements in cloud infrastructure and internet bandwidth, hybrid cloud solutions can now deliver new capabilities and business opportunities for security professionals and their customers. Read Now

  • Help Your Customer Protect Themselves

    In the world of IT, insider threats are on a steep upward trajectory. The cost of these threats - including negligent and malicious employees that may steal authorized users’ credentials, rose from $8.3 million in 2018 to $16.2 million in 2023. Insider threats towards physical infrastructures often bleed into the realm of cybersecurity; for instance, consider an unauthorized user breaching a physical data center and plugging in a laptop to download and steal sensitive digital information. Read Now

  • Enhanced Situation Awareness

    Did someone break into the building? Maybe it is just an employee pulling an all-nighter. Or is it an actual perpetrator? Audio analytics, available in many AI-enabled cameras, can add context to what operators see on the screen, helping them validate assumptions. If a glass-break detection alert is received moments before seeing a person on camera, the added situational awareness makes the event more actionable. Read Now

  • Transformative Advances

    Over the past decade, machine learning has enabled transformative advances in physical security technology. We have seen some amazing progress in using machine learning algorithms to train computers to assess and improve computational processes. Although such tools are helpful for security and operations, machines are still far from being capable of thinking or acting like humans. They do, however, offer unique opportunities for teams to enhance security and productivity. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3