This was no episode of CSI, though: The sting took place in the British city of Nottingham, one of several trials undertaken as proof of concept by U.K.-based security firm, Smartwater.

"Criminals hate traceability, or anything that's trackable," explained ex-cop and company co-founder Phil Cleary from his office in the U.K. His scientist brother developed Smartwater's proprietary technology, like ink packets in bank heists, but invisible. "We've had them attack our solution with bleach or acid, and they still can't remove it."

Less unwieldy and less obvious than microchips, Smartwater can be daubed on almost anything, from rings to golf clubs. Each client's solution contains its own DNA-like synthetic code, which can then prove ownership on any single recovered item; Smartwater stores up to 10 registered items in its central database for $5 a month. Buttress this property-protecting approach with a motion-triggered spritzing system—perhaps when a stable gate opens unexpectedly or a garage door — from around $2,000 per installation.