MEDIA RELEASE
Sydney, Australia – January 29, 2010
Copper crime caught out by new DataDot technology
An inventive Australian technology product is at the centre of the fight against a worldwide epidemic
of copper theft affecting energy and telecommunications companies among others.
Crime Stoppers Director for Australia and Crime Stoppers International, Peter Price OAM said: “This
is brilliant news. It’s great to see an Australian company leading the way in new technologies that will
help reduce crime.”
DataDot Technology Pty Ltd, best known for its microdot anti-theft devices for cars, bicycles and
boats, has extended its expertise into industry applications with a new identification system called
AuthentiCable
.
AuthentiCable
embeds a permanent ‘microdot’ identification technology into expensive electrical
conductors to help prevent copper theft and cable theft.
The product has been developed through a joint venture company owned by DataDot and the CSIRO
called DataTraceDNA Pty Ltd (DataTrace).
AuthentiCable
contains tiny microdots that are laser etched with multiple lines of code. The
microdots are then embedded into monofilaments – ‘single strand polymer fibres’ - that are, in turn,
integrated into copper and aluminium products (such as electrical cabling).
DataDot Technology is working with utilities in Australia, such as Integral Energy, deploying the
technology to minimise their exposure to copper theft and cable theft.
“Trading in stolen cabling, especially copper wire, is not only a problem in Australia but worldwide,”
Crime Stoppers Mr Price said.
“Copper is a non precious metal and, to that end, it is not regulated like gold and silver. Often it is
traded on the black market with almost no possibility of identifying the origin of the copper.”
Datadot is making metal recyclers aware that they can easily determine ownership of cables
presented for sale using the technology.
The technology provides worldwide law enforcement agencies with the information they need to
prosecute metal theft (connecting stolen goods via the microdot coding to their rightful owners) and
hence helps prevent copper theft in the first place.
DataDot operates globally and the DataTrace joint venture has developed the product in conjunction
with a South African company, Holomatrix (Pty) Limited. Holomatrix supplies the microdots and
DataTrace supplies the forensic marker system.
The DatatraceDNA forensic marker system contained in the monofilament also enables the cable to
be identified in the field. A hand held detector scans the cable directly to read the embedded
information, much like reading a barcode.
Even if copper cable thieves tamper or remove the external shielding or attempt to burn the outer
casing from the cable, the AuthentiCable
monofilament system will remain intact inside the core of a
cable.
Nancy Strachan, the CEO of the Recycling Association of South Africa, is of the opinion that
“AuthentiCable
will provide a long-term, cost-effective and sustainable solution to the epidemic of
cable theft that is sweeping across the globe.
“The metal recycling industry, which represents the scrap metal dealers, is supportive of the product,
as this will enable all dealers to identify the stolen materials and also be able to prevent these stolen
materials from entering the market.”
Crime Stoppers says that copper theft has attracted the attention of the FBI in the US which has
forecast that the market for illicit copper is likely to increase as the global supply of copper continues
to tighten.
“AuthentiCable
technology should, however, make it increasingly difficult to trade in copper cabling,
benefiting not only the power and telephone companies, but also government tax offices, legitimate
scrap metal traders and, ultimately, consumers.
DataDot Technology products are already being used in Australia and around the world to help
prevent theft, authenticate and identify a wide range of property and valuables ranging from vehicles,
boats, home and business property, tools and heavy machinery.
# # #
For media comment:
Ben Bootle, CEO and Managing Director
DataDot Technology Ltd
Tel: +61 2 8977 4900
Email: bbootle@datadotdna.com
For further information and questions:
John O’Neill
Tel: +61 2 9368 7420 or mobile 0419 751 798
Email: john.oneill@komosion.com.au
Background information on company
DataDot Technology is the recipient of two awards at the 2009 Crime Stoppers Australia awards (Dec 2009).
More information about their microdot anti-theft devices for marine, vehicle and cable industries can be found at
DataDot Technology Ltd is listed on the ASX (code: DDT)
Further online reading:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Report highlighting nature of copper theft and implications
AuthentiCable
2010
NEWS 
