[MSN] Allianz Musical Insurance in the UK offers its customers a new service: with SmartWater, each instrument receives a unique invisible identification.

[MSN]

Allianz: Outsmarting musical instrument thieves  

The FINANCIAL -- Allianz Musical Insurance in the UK offers its customers a
new service: with SmartWater, each instrument receives a unique invisible
identification.

A rare and precious violin, such as a Stradivarius can cost as much as a
mansion. But even amateur musicians form a strong bond with their guitar,
clarinet or bass and it's a very emotional experience to have a musical
instrument broken, damaged or stolen.
This is why Allianz Insurance plc in the UK now offers a special service
with their musical instrument insurance policies, which is designed to
quickly identify a stolen instrument's owner.

A different recipe for each bottle

The service is based on a forensic security coding product, called
SmartWater - the first tangible product to have been incorporated into an
insurance policy. "SmartWater is a water-based cocktail made out of twelve
different ingredients", explains Paul Crump, musical insurance manager for
Allianz Insurance.
"Like DNA, SmartWater's make-up is unique each time it is used", Crump
continues. "It's harmless and easy to apply, virtually invisible and almost
impossible to remove. But it fluoresces under UV light, which makes it easy
for law enforcement to detect." Once the police have found a SmartWater
trace on a stolen item, the SmartWater company then can "read" its code and
return the stolen property to the rightful owner.  


Deterrent to thieves and burglars

"But the great thing is that SmartWater reduces the threat," says Crump. "A
recent study has shown that 91 percent of UK criminals are aware of the
SmartWater technology. 74 percent of the offenders interviewed admitted they
would be deterred from breaking into a building by a SmartWater sign." The
study, led by Martin Gill, Professor of Criminology at the University of
Leicester, identified SmartWater as being more effective in deterring
experienced criminals than security guards, burglar alarms, ink-dye tags and
closed circuit TV.

Irrefutable evidence

"SmartWater really is a criminal's worst nightmare," says Crump - just one
billionth of a part is enough to provide irrefutable evidence to secure
convictions.
Since Allianz began including the technology with its musical instrument
policies in September 2007, the claim rate has decreased because of the
SmartWater labels displayed on the instrument cases. Allianz Insurance is
now planning to introduce a similar offer to all its Home & Legacy
customers. 

In addition, SmartWater is in contact with law enforcement authorities in
several other countries - their support is a precondition to individuals
being able to protect their valuables with the new technology. And maybe one
day, Allianz customers across the globe will benefit from it.

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