| Author | Message | ||
     P. Hayashi |
Thanks for the response. I think I had better go with my character screwing up the prints as she is very unlikely to know what to do. The tampon scenario is great and if I actually succeed in getting anything published, maybe I can use it! | ||
| Kasey Wertheim |
LOL!! Ed, I was going to tell her to have her character leave prints on a newspaper or a writing tablet, since prints on paper are much less delicate to surface contact than prints on non-porous surfaces. But I think the tampon scenerio will go over much better with the readers. That's great!! :) And regarding the fumes, she could always remove the mug quickly releasing minimal fumes, tie the bag tightly and place it by the door for the custodian. Ed, I think you missed your calling... to write fiction. That was awesome. :) -Kasey | ||
| Webmaster |
As stated in the FAQ's, "Ideally, nonporous surfaces (which a drop of water would probably not soak into) should be superglue fumed at the crime scene before transit OR transported in such a way as to minimize contact between any smooth surfaces and packaging materials/containers." In her purse, your character could have two each 4" x 4" pieces of thick plastic (or thin wood) and some rubber bands. She would carefully handle the mug by the lip and very edge of the base, then put a square on the top and bottom of the coffee mug and wrap rubber bands around the squares multiple times keep the mug wedged in the center. Thus she could transport it in a relatively empty purse with minimal contact that would destroy impressions. A bolder woman with knowledge and skills in developing impressions might take the mug to the nearest restroom, and place it in (an empty) one of those miniature waste cans in a stall (not found in men's restroom stalls). She would then pull apart a tampon and place it in the bottom of the container. By squirting a few drops of superglue on the tampon, the exothermic reaction created by polymerization with cellulose in the tampon would sufficiently heat enough of the remaining liquid superglue to complete the fuming chamber reaction. In probably five minutes (for a small chamber) the latent prints would be fused to the surface and much less likely to be abraded during transport. This expedient development scenario probably works best in fiction though, because unless it is a corner stall beneath an open window or exhaust fan, the acrid fumes from the superglue (escaping into the air when she opens the chamber) would be much more irritating to breath than any other odors visitors might encounter in the room. | ||
| Patrizia Hayashi |
I'm a budding writer. I had a character of mine (obviously not a police officer) steal a coffee mug, wrap it a handkerchief and stuff it in her purse. She intended to give it to her friend the cop to analyze the prints. After reading this site, I see that is pure fiction. Is it possible at all to pick up an object from someone else and hide it in a bag or pocket without destroying the prints? If so, what kind of object would be okay and what would be the best way to transport it? It's really amazing what TV gets away with! |
