Tools and Equipment

This chapter explores the role of tools and equipment in linking crimes. Tools, ranging from basic implements such as crowbars, screwdrivers, and bolt cutters to specialized devices like lock-picking kits, siphons, or cyber intrusion software, reveal offender skill level, occupational knowledge, and degree of preparation. Equipment, including ladders, gloves, burner phones, or surveillance devices, can further demonstrate planning and resource access. Crime-specific toolsets are provided for burglary, arson, cybercrime, and vehicle theft, with attention to distinctive tool marks, recurring methods, and improvisation using objects found at the scene. A case study of organized residential burglaries in Los Angeles illustrates how consistent use of elevation aids, such as ladders and drainpipes, enabled entry to second-story bedrooms and served as an important linkage factor across multiple incidents. The chapter emphasizes the importance of documenting both common and unusual tools, examining forensic evidence left by implements, and tracing procurement sources.