Crime Scene Investigation in the warehouse.
Yang Sen found a yellow cardboard box in a corner and blew off non-existent dust. The temperature and humidity-controlled storeroom was very clean.
"Lu, this case is quite something. If you manage to find the suspect, our CSI team will really make a name for themselves!"
Seeing the box Yang Sen picked up, Liu Guodong and Old Bai immediately knew what he was up to.
Liu Guodong nodded in agreement, "Old Yang is right, you should first take a look at the files."
Although Lu Chuan felt the three were being a bit secretive, it didn't matter to him. Having just acquired the footprint analysis skill, Lu Chuan had already achieved some success and was eager for more.
"Burglary case?"
Lu Chuan was slightly taken aback when he opened the case files. Why would there be a cold case of burglary within the Criminal Investigation Team?
Burglaries aren't one of the top priority cases, and are generally handled by the subordinate police stations.
Case handling follows a process; it's clearly defined who deals with what type of case.
Handling cases beyond one's jurisdiction or authority is not allowed.
Of course, some cases' nature is hard to determine, like robbery and snatching.
All robbery cases, regardless of whether there's injury or the amount involved, have a minimum of three years sentence. If it's done on public transport, at home, or it's repeated, it's ten years or more.
Whereas for snatching, it's typically a maximum of three years, but if the amount is exceptionally large, it could lead to life imprisonment.
The line is drawn depending on whether violence or coercion was used during the crime. If so, it's robbery, if not, it's another matter.
For example, if a biker gang snatches a bag without using violence or injuring anyone, it could be classified as snatching.
In ordinary theft cases, unless the amount is exceptionally huge or the impact very bad, the Criminal Investigation Team doesn't get involved; minor cases remain with the police station.
In this case, the amount involved is just over ten thousand yuan, along with some gold jewelry, but it doesn't seem to qualify as massive.
"Brother Yang, the amount in this case doesn't seem big, why is it with the investigation team?"
Yang Sen's mouth curved into a mysterious smile, "Because the person who was robbed is quite special."
"Special?"
Lu Chuan opened the file again, the victim was a man in his sixties, "A leader of some sort?"
Yang Sen shook his head, "Take another guess."
How on earth am I supposed to guess?
Liu Guodong took out the remaining documents from the box, "Stop guessing, the victim is Song Jiangguo's father-in-law."
Huh?
"Who is Song Jiangguo?"
"The Director..."
Lu Chuan: "..."
This was a case from two years ago. As Lu Chuan went through the files, he was curious, "Captain Qin... did he get yelled at badly?"
"No, Director Song isn't that petty."
Huh?
"But the car Captain Qin drives, which was supposed to be replaced, has already been running for ten years..."
Oh.
Lu Chuan nodded, that made sense.
The case file was simple; the thief was a repeat offender, and the crime scene was clean, leaving only a trail of footprints behind.
"We went to the scene back then, the lock-picking method was very professional. Definitely a repeat offender."
"While the Director's father-in-law's house being robbed wasn't leaked, internally it was quite the stir. That week, all the repeat offenders in Haizhou City were swept up, but nothing was found."
"The suspect was likely a transient one, and given Director Song's father-in-law lived in an old community without surveillance, it was eventually shelved."
"Oh, right, Director Song did say that when the case is solved is when Captain Qin gets a new car."
"Ding!"
"Advanced Task: Analyze the suspect's physical appearance based on the burglary footprints, issue an internal manhunt, assist in apprehending the suspect."
The same desk from the morning, Lu Chuan laid out all the footprint photos from the crime scene and began to scrutinize them carefully.
"Master, didn't they seek the footprint analysis expert back then to analyze these?"
Liu Guodong shook his head with a bitter smile. The three of them had been unable to lift their heads for half a year because of this, "Where would the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau have the face to ask someone else for help after the director's father-in-law's home was burgled? No one wants to air their dirty laundry."
What he said made sense. If they had sought external help, Song Jiangguo might have gone ballistic on Qin Yong.
The footprints were very complete; the suspect clearly didn't use protective shoe covers.
Repeat offenders are like that; as long as they leave no fingerprints, they won't be found. And even if they are, they won't admit it.
Very few thieves understand using footprints to convict.
After observing for a while, Lu Chuan picked up a millimeter ruler and began measuring data.
Measuring footprints doesn't require as much precision as fingerprint measurement does.
Generally, the millimeter level is enough for analysis and calculation requirements.
However, the measurement of fingerprints isn't the same. Due to their smaller size compared to footprints, vernier calipers or even laser measurement is often needed.
Of course, the latter is used only by expert fingerprint analysts, while the average person... doesn't even get to use the vernier calipers.
Seeing Lu Chuan start the measurements, Yang Sen rubbed his hands eagerly, "Lu... haha, can we watch how you operate?"
As Yang Sen spoke, Old Bai and Liu Guodong also turned their heads to look over.
Footprint analysis is different from fingerprint analysis; while the latter has a standardized learning process and mature methodologies, footprint analysis doesn't. What's written on paper is only superficial knowledge; the true expertise is in the hands of very few.
For example, they knew of a footprint expert in a northern province. The skill has been passed down from grandfather to son, then son to daughter.
Therefore, Yang Sen wanted to learn a bit but needed Lu Chuan's permission.
"There's nothing that can't be seen."
Lu Chuan didn't mind, it wasn't some secret.
However, certain aspects seem to be traits of the skill. Compared to data calculations, selecting some measurement points is about intuition or experience.
As soon as Lu Chuan started, he knew which point to select.
"When I was in college, I had some insight into footprint analysis and CSI photography, but as for other things, I rely on the guidance of seniors."
Lu Chuan was speaking the truth. He currently only possessed those two skills; others weren't his forte.
Moreover, both Liu Guodong and Yang Sen had been particular mentors to Lu Chuan.
Yesterday during the CSI, they spared no effort in teaching some small techniques.
With reciprocation in mind, Lu Chuan saw no reason to hide his skills.
As Lu Chuan said this, the atmosphere relaxed quite a bit, and Yang Sen and the others looked less awkward.
However, as they watched, their brows began to furrow deeply.
"Lu... why choose these two points to measure?"
"Lu, what's the purpose of the ratio of these two data sets?"
Many things, you can't learn just by watching. It's like everyone knows a certain teacher's hand skills are legendary, but no one learned them despite many having watched.
Of course, one reason is technical, another is the lack of experimental material.
Also, some talents are like arid land, unable to compare to fertile fields no matter what.
With three asking and one answering, time passed swiftly.
5:32 in the afternoon.
Looking at the calculation completed on scratch paper, Lu Chuan stretched lazily.
"Finally done."
The suspect's physical characteristics had been analyzed and completed on the scratch paper as well.