The conspicuous bright color (usually red) stains on the bills, allow quick easy visual recognition of stolen money.
Stained bills cannot be brought back into circulation easily, because they are visually and/or forensically linked quickly to the crime scene.
[2] The concept of an IBNS is based upon the notion that criminals seek to maximize their reward while minimizing the potential cost of the crime.
Tracers and markers added to the ink or bonding agent provide forensic evidence linking the criminal to the crime scene, increasing the risk of being caught.
IBNS focuses on using technology to protect people, valuables and equipment whilst minimizing the use of weapons and armoured vehicles.
[5][6] A stack of bills fitted with a dye pack is generally stored next to a magnetic plate at a bank teller's workstation.
Under these conditions, it remains in standby or safe mode until a bank employee removes it from the plate and hands it to a robber, causing it to become armed.
The release is intended to mark the money and/or the robber's body with a brightly colored stain so that they can be easily recognized as having been involved in a crime.