This handbag device will help you catch snatch thieves red-handed, literally
A Malaysian company developed a handbag accessory designed to stop thieves red-handed ... literally.
Aptly called the Handbag Dyenator, the device clips onto any bag and allows users to release colored dye and a smoke flare remotely via text.
The colored dye and smoke is meant to both draw attention to the thief and mark them, literally, making it easier for authorities to identify and apprehend thieves before they get away. But if that fails, the device is also enabled with GPS, allowing you to track your bag's whereabouts.
The device was developed by sportswear firm Ash Be Nimble as a way to combat snatch thefts, a common criminal tactic in Malaysia. The most common targets of snatch thefts are women walking alone.
The culprits often take away on motorbikes, and soon blend into the crowd, making them impossible to find — something the Dyenator hopes to change.
"The handbag Dyenator is just another way to put safety back in the hands of women, and we hope that it will act as a deterrent to snatch thieves," Hui Mathews, the founder of Ash Be Nimble, said in a statement.
However, not everyone was impressed by the device.
"Wouldn't the thieves learn about the device and cut it right away?" said one netizen on Facebook.
"Seeing as most mobile devices are kept in handbags, this feels like a flawed design," another added.
Still some found the device to be helpful.
"Commendable and useful. This is required in India because the number of snatching incidents are increasing," a user added.
Sadly, however, you've got some waiting to do if you want to get your hands on a Dyenator of your own. The device, which was created in collaboration with advertising agency Ogilvy, is not yet available to the public, though you can always try your luck at the waiting list.
Yvette is a Viral Content Reporter at Mashable Asia. She was previously reporting for BBC's Singapore bureau and Channel NewsAsia.
