Crime Scene Investigation With Amateur Sleuth Ida Figuritout

Crime scene investigators have a huge assortment of tools at their disposal. Sure, we’ve all seen the TV shows where detectives use fancy lights and magic wands to lead them to the mysterious killer of the week.

But what about the stampers, quilters, dog walkers, and realtors who stumble onto murders during their everyday routine? What about the part time PI’s? How do those civilian investigators go about solving the crime? Are there any tips and handy tools of the trade that can be utilized by amateur crime-solvers?

Sure, and they’re practical, while still pretty cool. And they’re cheap! And our top expert, Ida Figuritout, knows all the tricks. Such as…

Remember the last time the cops dusted your light switches for fingerprints?

What a mess, right? Black powder everywhere! Ida suggests having your sleuth show the boys in blue how to make a wall protector using a piece of cardboard.

Better still, advise the homeowner to make one for each switch in their house and keep them in a nearby drawer.

Then, the next time your sleuth or the CSI team shows up to investigate, they’re all set. No walls to scrub down.

Next up – Is your sleuth too tired to bend over to cover her pumps with shoe covers?

No problem. Have her sidekick place this handy device—the step-n-go—on the floor, and with two quick steps she’s all set.

Perfect for the investigator who simply doesn’t have the time to stand still even for a second.

Is your “Ida” flustered because she can’t get to the fingerprint that’s trapped inside a piece of wadded tape? The one piece of evidence she knows will put the dastardly killer away for life?

Well, a quick trip to Radio Shack can solve that problem. Send the assistant to the nearest mall to pick up a can of Component Spray.

A quick squirt and…

And there you go—the tape easily comes apart.

The spray freezes the tape to approximately -65 degrees.

Do NOT touch the tape with your bare hands.

Another trick is to place the tape inside a freezer for several hours.

What do you do with those old unwanted CD’s?

Well, Ida is always prepared for the rainy day homicide. That’s right, she knows what a real pain it can be to keep her camera tripod steady when the ground is muddy. So, she keeps a handful of old CD’s in her camera bag for the times when the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate with murder investigations. Ida knows that placing a CD under each leg quickly solves the problem. No more sinking into the goo. Works like a charm.

And that’s how Ida does it…