Allotment enthusiasts in Rhymney are hoping to beat the thieves with new security marking kits.
The Rhymney Valley Allotments Federation has issued SmartWater kits to all its members after a rise in thefts and acts of vandalism.
SmartWater is a dye which shows up under Ultra Violet light but which is invisible under normal light. The Smartwater used in each location is unique, meaning thieves can be traced to the scene of their crime.
The Federation held meetings with the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) which then successfully applied to the Community First Trust Fund for a grant.
The result is that all Federation member Allotment sites in the Rhymney Valley have now been issued with this Anti-theft deterrent kit which enables them to mark and identify their equipment which not only deters potential thieves but also allows members to be reunited with stolen property recovered by the police.
Nigel Powell, the council’s Parks and Leisure Officer, commended the initiative.
He said: “In the short time that the federation has been representing allotment sites they have achieved a great deal. This scheme in particular has gone a great way to improve the security for their members.”