I see this in various shows and movies, and it always leaves me wondering if it’s actually gonna do them any good in not getting tracked down.
In: 297
Actual cop here, not a forensic specialist but I have done some forensics work including in stolen cars etc.
You can wipe out or smudge prints quite easily, but for commonly handled surfaces such as a steering wheel there’s hardly any point. Anything that gets handled a lot in normal use is already completely covered in smudged out prints, meaning there’s oily sweat rubbed in everywhere. Trying to dust for prints on such grease covered surfaces is usually an exercise in futility, the powder adheres everywhere so you don’t get any legible prints. It may be possible to use the CA glue fume method, but gluing the whole inside of a car can be unpopular with the owner so you don’t do that unless the case is serious enough.
I’ve had more success with dusting other surfaces that the suspect has touched but the car owner rarely handles. Objects in the glove compartment, the rear view mirror, sometimes the outside of a side window if they leant on it to look in before breaking in.
Latest Answers