CSI-watching crooks are taking anti-forensic countermeasures to confuse their evidence trails, including throwing dumpster-dived cig butts in stolen-car ashtrays to create a welter of DNA profiles. Next up: ecommerce stores specialized in retailing small vials of DNA-bearing schmutz from the world's public transit systems.
There is an increasing trend for criminals to use plastic gloves during break-ins and condoms during rapes to avoid leaving their DNA at the scene. Dostie describes a murder case in which the assailant tried to wash away his DNA using shampoo. Police in Manchester in the UK say that car thieves there have started to dump cigarette butts from bins in stolen cars before they abandon them. "Suddenly the police have 20 potential people in the car," says Rutty.
(via Schneier)
