ws more precise identification of tools by the way they were manufactured. Manufacturing processes leave imperfections and patterns embedded in tool surfaces. The patterns are unique for each tool, and when criminals use tools to commit crimes patterns on their tools can be transferred to the crime scene and identified later (ôTool Marks Fight Crime,ö 2004, 17).
Handling physical evidence is one of the most important factors of the investigation process. Crime scene investigators should record the location of evidence at the scene, the date of collection, and the name of the person who collected it. Secure evidence in appropriate containers while at the crime scene, but remember that different kinds of evidence require different containers such as glass, or airtight, porous or non-porous.
Process latent evidence such as fingerprints, palm prints, footprints, tire impressions, and footwear impressions. Neil Gross writing in Business Week (2004) notes that each day, U.S. law-enforcement agencies check thousands of fingerprints recovered from crime scenes against prints stored in electronic databases. As many as one-third may eventually be matched with prints on file. The ``hit rate'' is bound to improve as police departments begin to integrate palm print searches into their data analysis. Gross explains that between 30% to 40% of prints found at crime scenes come from the palm, rather than from fingers (Gross, 2004).
Finally, reports and other documentation pe
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