ABSTRACT
Window entry is usually accomplished by breaking a hole through a pane and removing the broken glass to reach the latch. To minimize the noise from falling glass, the burglar may press a rag against the window; sometimes adhesive tape may be used. In some cases, the burglar may remove the entire windowpane by removing the putty holding the glass in place. It has even happened that the burglar has replaced the glass intact and put in new putty. Where a screen covers a window, a careful examination of the edges for any cuts may show bers from the sleeve where the suspect’s arm was inserted to open or break the window. Glass is one type of evidence o†en found on the suspect when a window was broken to gain entrance. When the window is broken, it is almost unavoidable that some pieces of the ’ying glass will adhere to the suspect’s clothing. e investigator should collect specimens of the broken window for possible comparison with glass found on the burglar’s clothes and also search for any ngerprints present on the windowpane, as well as prints present in the window putty. It is also possible for the suspect to have cut or scraped themself on the broken glass. Any blood found on glass can be sent for DNA typing.
