Spray paint droplets adhering to the fibers of a jacket, observed under a microscope (magnification ~75x). When spraying from a spray paint can, paint droplets from the resulting mist are likely to fall on nearby surfaces, and can be used to link clothing to paint found at an action site[1].
Trace evidence is the tiny fragments of physical evidence that can be transferred between objects, or between objects and the environment. This transfer can occur when two objects touch, or when small particles are dispersed by an action or movement. Trace evidence can be analyzed to establish links between people, objects, and places.
Examples of trace evidence include hair (including pet hair), gunshot residue, fibers from clothing, paint chips, and pieces of glass. Less common examples include soil, cosmetics, and fire debris.
See the other physical traces topic.
Used in tactics: Incrimination
Mitigations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Anonymous dress | An adversary can use trace evidence from clothing (e.g., textile fibers detaching from clothing into the environment) to establish links between people, clothing, and places. To mitigate this, you can dress anonymously. |
| Careful action planning | An adversary can use trace evidence to link objects to an action site. To mitigate this, you can carefully plan the action so that after the action you dispose of any tools or clothing you used during the action. |
| Stash spot or safe house | An adversary can use trace evidence to link objects to an action site. To mitigate this, you can carefully plan the action so that after the action you store in a stash spot or safe house any tools that are too expensive to realistically discard after each action. |
Used in repressive operations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Case against Jeff Luers | In the raid of the storage unit, the police found a bolt cutter matching the cuts in the fence surrounding the site of the May arson attempt[2]. |
References
Handbook of Trace Evidence Analysis (2020), chapter Paints and Polymers, p. 157–218.