Crime Scene Search Methods and
Patterns: Types and When to Use
With Examples
What is Crime Scene Search?
A Crime Scene Search is a systematic method designed to
locate evidence within a crime scene or other areas where
evidence might be present. This process typically involves:
Dividing the search area into manageable segments.
Adapting the search pattern to suit the specific area,
available personnel, time constraints due to weather and
lighting, and the unique circumstances of each crime
scene.
In other words, it is a technique used to comprehensively
search the area to uncover potential evidence that helps in
solving cases.
Here are some key elements that state why a crime scene
search pattern is needed.
Understanding the crime scene and what needed to
focus on. For example, in a single center point in a
confined area, wheel search is preferred.
Defines where to look for evidence and what any
anomalies or inconsistencies in a crime scene indicate. It
helps in reconstruction.
Using proper crime scene recording, the location of
evidence can be established even if the evidence is
located far from the crime site.
An efficient and effective way to save time without
compromising the investigation process.
Help in the learning process for new crime scene
examiners (CSE) or investigators.
Preliminary Search
The initial quasi-search focuses on identifying obvious items of
evidence, such as weapons, broken objects, or visible traces. It
is usually done before actual documentation of the crime
scene.
This search serves orientation purposes, helping investigators
familiarize themselves with the crime scene layout before
documentation begins.
The preliminary search allows investigators to formulate an
initial understanding of the crime, guiding their approach
to the subsequent intensive search.
Advantages:
Relatively quick and efficient.
The best strategy to start documentation of any crime
scene.
Identify key pieces of evidence.
Helps investigators familiarize themselves with the crime
scene.
Disadvantages:
Limited in-depth analysis.
May not uncover less obvious or hidden evidence.
The focus on more apparent items might lead to
inadvertent contamination of other evidence.
Intensive Search
The intensive search is conducted after documentation,
including photographs, sketches, and notes, but before the
actual collection and packaging of evidence begin.
Intensive searches have a level of intrusiveness; Move
from least intrusive to more intrusive to avoid damaging
evidence. Here are examples of various levels of intrusiveness:
a. Least Intrusive Search Method: It includes searching the
crime scene with the naked eye or lighting tool (ALS), without
touching any items and then documenting and collecting.
b. More intrusive Method: After initial documentation and
collection, items like furniture, clothes, or other objects are
moved to uncover hidden or less obvious items.
c. Most intrusive Method: It involves damaging or destroying
items within the crime scene to collect evidence. For
Example: cutting holes in the wall to recover projectiles,
cutting pieces of carpet with bloodstain pattern, etc.
Advantages:
Recovery of hidden evidence that may be missed during
the preliminary search.
A thorough examination of the crime scene.
Can be related to accurate and complete investigation.
Reduce the risk of important evidence left behind.
Disadvantages:
Can be time-consuming especially if there are too many
items and hidden places.
Documentation and photographing each level of
intrusiveness during the search is time-consuming.
Some evidence requires trained officials to avoid
contamination.
Require additional resources such as a specialized CSE and
specialized equipment.
The most intrusive searches may require physically
damaging the crime scene items.
Link (Point-to-Point) Search Method
Link search methods focus on following a trail of evidence by
first evaluating the various focus points within the crime scene
and then documenting and communicating successively.
In this method, the search begins from the first point of
interest such as the front door or evidence, and processes to
the next point of interest. This continues sequentially until all
interest points get covered.
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
This method is suitable for crime scenes with multiple
points of interest and a need to establish clear paths for
investigators to follow.
Advantages:
Helps establish clear walking paths, minimizing loss or
destruction of evidence.
Allows a systematic search focused on multiple points of
interest within the crime scene.
Disadvantages:
Can be time-consuming, especially if there are many
points of interest.
Requires careful attention to avoid straying away from
established pathways.
May not be suitable for crime scenes with few interest
points.
MAJOR SEARCH PATTERNS
Strip
The strip method requires that crime scene personnel walk
a path from one end of the crime scene, over to the other
side of the room or area, and then return in the direction
from which he or she first started. Every lap brings the
investigator closer to the center of the room or space being
searched. The appearance is similar to someone swimming
laps in a pool.
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
Large areas or expansive crime scenes.
Open areas where visibility is generally unobstructed such
as parks.
Advantages:
Ensures systematic coverage of large or open areas.
Can be easily extended to cover multiple rooms or areas
within a given scene.
Provides a clear and organized search pattern, reducing
the risk of missing crucial evidence.
Disadvantages:
Requires a sizable team of investigators for efficient
execution.
Can be time-consuming, particularly for very large crime
scenes.
Less suitable for irregularly shaped or indoor crime scenes.
Line Search Pattern; ><
The line search method is a variation of the strip/lane
search. There is only one main difference between the
two i.e. in line search methods, multiple searchers are walking
across the crime scene in straight lines and don’t turn back.
They continued their path to the other side of the crime scene.
While in strip or lane methods, searches turn around and
continue to search in the adjacent strip or lane.
Investigators Needed: One per line.
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
Best suited for outdoor crime scenes involving rough or
uneven terrain, where it might be challenging to physically
mark lanes or strips.
Linear or elongated crime scenes such as roadsides, and
alleyways.
Advantages:
Suitable for outdoor crime scenes with difficult terrain.
Enables simultaneous searching by multiple investigators,
potentially expediting the search process.
Provides a systematic approach, reducing the risk of
overlooking evidence.
Disadvantages:
Requires a larger team of investigators or searchers for
efficient execution.
Can be challenging to maintain a straight alignment and
consistent search direction due to terrain.
Spiral (Circle) Search Method
As the name suggests, the crime scene is searched in circular motion eith
the scene (outward spiral) or from the outer perimeter to the center of th
spiral).
With each turn, the searcher either has to move outward or inward while
If the searcher feels dizziness due to circular movement, make sure to tak
Other Names: Circle Search Method
Investigators Required: Only one
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
An inward spiral method is preferred in confined, small, confined,
An outward spiral method is preferred when crime scenes have n
as open water.
Advantages:
One searcher is needed.
A way of thoroughly searching crime scenes.
Disadvantages:
Searchers need to pay constant attention.
Can cause disorientation due to circular motion.
Investigators have to follow their imaginary spiral lines which can lea
evidence.
Grid Search Pattern
The grid search method is a variation of the strip search
method, where the area is searched twice in two perpendicular
directions, ensuring a more thorough examination of the crime
scene.
In this systematic approach, investigators start walking in a
designated lane in one direction (e.g., north to south ). After
completing, turn around at a 90° angle and continue (east to
west).
Other Names: Modified line method or Double-line search
Investigators needed: One investigator
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use
This method is well-suited for large, open areas and
outdoor crime scenes.
Where evidence may be scattered over a definitive wide
area, such as fields or parking lots.
Advantages:
Ensures thorough coverage by searching the area twice in
perpendicular directions.
Minimizes the chances of missing crucial evidence.
Disadvantages:
More time-consuming due to double search.
Requires significant manpower for optimal efficiency.
Physically marking in two stages also increases the risk of
contaminating the crime scene.
Zone Search Pattern
The zone search pattern method divides an extensive crime scene into sm
quadrants. Each investigator is assigned to search a specific quadrant or
comprehensive search.
Other Names: Map Grid or Quadrant searching
Investigators Needed: Depends on crime scene needs
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
Ideal for large interior or exterior scenes or vehicles that require a ne
scenes into zones.
For example, effective in houses or buildings with rooms.
Advantages:
Enables a more organized and systematic search of extensive crime
Use of other search methods such as strips, and spirals in each zone
coverage.
Facilitates tracking of which zones have been searched and by whom
are overlooked.
Disadvantages:
Can be time-consuming, particularly for very large or complex crime
Requires proper documentation and labeling of zones to avoid confu
A larger team of investigators may be required for efficient execution
Wheel or Ray Search Pattern
The wheel or ray search method is used in crime scenes with a
central point of interest. From the central points, searches have
to move in a straight ray looking for evidence.
You can understand the wheel/ray search method as a wheel
whose center axis represents the central point of interest and
each spoke represents the ray that needs to be followed by the
searcher.
Other Names: Radial, Spoke, or Ray search pattern
method
Investigators Needed: One per ray (Ideal at least 6)
Appropriate Crime Scene Situation to Use In:
Small crime scenes with limited area.
Larger scenes such as grasslands in searching for bodies.
Situations where a quick initial search is needed. Eg: a
missing person from his trip to the forest.
Advantages:
Cover a large area in a short time.
Easy to organize.
No marking zones or lines.
Disadvantages:
Higher chance of losing potential evidence.
Not suitable for crime scene searches with scattered
evidence.
Need of secondary search from other searching methods.
Why is it not advisable to use Citizens for
searching for some crimes?
In some cases, such as missing persons in forest areas need to
rescue asap, in those cases, police need more manpower and
that is why they include citizens from local communities to
search the area.
This is quite a good option but it leads to many other problems.
These are:
Risk of involvement of perpetrators as a
searcher: This may lead perpetrators to compromise the
investigation.
Lack of expertise to handle evidence: Citizens may
not have the experience to conduct a crime scene search
and handle evidence. This leads to contamination of
potential evidence.
Emotional involvement: Some of the citizens might
have a personal connection to victims or suspects that can
deliberately bias their actions and judgment during the
search.
Legal Issue: Destruction or contamination of potential
evidence by a citizen can lead to the removal of that
evidence from the case, and the loss of its evidentiary
values.
So, it is better, whenever possible, not to involve any citizen in
crime scene searches. All citizens or reporters should be bound
behind the yellow crime scene tapes.
