How do you catch a criminal if you don't know what s/he looks like?

Question

I thought I'd try my hamd at writing a crime story, but I know squat about police procedures. In my story I plan to have the criminal having done something wrong. The police know his name but they don't know where he lives, or what he looks like. How would you catch him? Thanks!

Answer 1

Appeal to their sense of greed or vanity & set a trap for them to walk right into without them realizing it! Names can be bogus. If you can afford it, why not post their name on a billboard that they won something & someone MIGHT ID them for you. It seems that everyone wants to be a HERO these days!

Answer 2

DNA and fingerprints. If the crime was homicide they have detectives who are assigned. These guys have a hugh network of friends and contacts and ask around till they get more info on the guy. Depends on the crime too on how much coverage it's going to get. Good luck.

Answer 3

That scenario happens all the time with bad checks or white collar type crimes. The answer is the police investigate to get what they need to identify and prosecute him/her.

Answer 4

If I know your name I know what you look like. I go to my computer, type in your name and your picture pops up. Its part of the "Driver and Vehicle Services" website.

Answer 5

Its called forensic science.
Finger prints
Shoe prints
D.N.A samples-tissue,blood,hair,saliva,skin
pieces of evidence like pieces of fabric from clothing, lint,ect..

Answer 6

go to a computer, type in his name. Go check out everybody that pops up.

Answer 7

Conduct preliminary investigation and surveillance.

Answer 8

depend what the crime is, was there d.n.a.?,.....does the criminal taunt the police with letters or phone calls?,.....not enough info to help you,,.....