title: A physical match of a metallic chip found on a bolt cutters' blade.
abstract: Bolt cutters are known as devices which are used for cutting hard objects and rigid materials such as padlocks and bars. They are commonly used in instances of forced entries. In this case study, a bolt cutter was found in the car of two suspects in a grocery burglary. This study indicates how the presence of a small metallic chip found on a suspected bolt cutter can prove that the tool was used in the crime scene. During the initial examination, a metallic chip from the cut shackle padlock was found stuck to one of the bolt cutters' blades. By comparing the metallic chip's microscopic edge and the breaking (fracture) line of the padlock's shackle, a full physical match was noticed. We wish to report here how residue, even the smallest, can be used to link burglary tools to a crime scene with a high level of certainty.
authors.affiliation: Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Israel Police Headquarters, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volkov
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Novoselsky
authors.forename: Tsadok
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsach
keywords: bolt cutter; criminalistics; cutting tool; forced entries; forensic science; metal chip; metallic chip; padlock; physical match; toolmarks