Cordillera Career Development College

College of Criminal Justice Education

CHAPTER VIII
TOOL MARKS and
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATION

Chapter Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you are expected to:
1. Define tools and and the types of marks they create
2. Understand the importance of number restoration

TOOL:

TOOL MARK: Defined as any impression, cut, scratch, indentation or any other markings left in
an object by another harder objects or instruments.

Information That Tool Marks Can Provide:

 The type of tool
 Shape of the cutting edge of a blade
 Blade width
 Color of the tool (based on the paint transfer from the tool)
 Class characteristics of the tool
 Unique identifying marks

TYPES OF TOOL MARKS:

1. Embossed/Impression Marks:
Ex: Punches, hammers and some gripping tools

2. Striated Scrape Marks:

Ex: Tools such as crowbars, pry bars and screw drivers

3. Shearing or Pinching Marks:

Ex: Shearing scissors, pliers, bolt cutters cause pinching

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOOL MARKS EVIDENCE:

A. Class Characteristics
 It allows the examiner to identify what type of tool created the impression and how the
mark was created however they do not permit the ID of the exact tool

B. Individual Characteristics
 Accidental or unintentional marks or defects left on the toolthrough the use of the tool

Prepared by: Alfonso, Jarell Mae O. 1

 Cordillera Career Development College
College of Criminal Justice Education
GENERAL GUIDELINES IN COLLECTING AND PACKAGING TOOL MARKS EVIDENCE:
1. Protect the _______ of the tool marks
2. The best method is to collect the ___________ bearing the mark
3. ___________ the package of tool and tool marks to protect the tool, possible fingerprint
and trace materials.
4. If the objects with tool mark is too big (door or window), cut around the tool mark or cast
the tool mark with _____________. Use casting materials that do not shrink like silicone.
5. Collect the suspected tool only
6. ________ the part of the tool that produced tool marks.

LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF TOOL MARKS:

1. Tool mark comparison begins at the __________; objects with tool mark and suspected tool
are collected by the crime scene investigator.
2. Tool mark examiners conducts ______________ of the specimen by notifying manufacturer,
model, dimensions, any defects or damage visible on the tool and make visual examination
of the tool mark.
3. ____________ the type of tool mark as embossed, striated or shearing.
4. Measure the lengths and widths
5. Create __________ with the tool. Should be reproduced similar with the evidence material
and created in a manner similar to the way the questioned tool mark was created. A softer
material can be used if the evidence material is hard damaging the tool changing individual’s
characteristics of the tool.
6. The marks are _____________ compared for unique and repetitive mark on both standard
and questioned specimen.

NUMBER RESTORATION
The identification of stolen property found or recovered by the police is often a necessary
procedure to be able to return the property to the owners or to identify the articles. In many
cases the owner can identify the property by special peculiarities but even in such cases
difficulties arises in making the identification.

The articles are normally with serial number or a monogram or other inscription that
serves to identify them. In order to destroy this identification, a finder or stealer will erase the
identifying marks by some suitable methods such as _______________. It’s the job of the police
to __________ or restore the numbers so that the articles may be identified as a stolen property.

SERIAL NUMBER
Serial number is a series of digits that is placed on a particular item to distinguish that
item from others like it. It is sometimes preceded by interpolated or followed by letters or
symbols. It is planned, recorded number that corresponds to a system of numbering.

In most instances, they are simply a sequential number, which describes how many units in
a particular production sequence have been produced, or in some cases, they are encoded to carry
information about the product.

Prepared by: Alfonso, Jarell Mae O. 2

 Cordillera Career Development College
College of Criminal Justice Education
IMPORTANCE OF NUMBER RESTORATION:
1. Serial numbers offers the investigators a key to the record of reported theft or abandonment
of repair, repossession, and registration by means of number restoration.
2. Establish ____________ from the articles that were found at the scene.
3. To ______ that the property was found in the possession of suspect
4. Establish government __________ of recovered property that is believed to have been
stolen, lost or abandoned.
5. Resolve ___________ claims to property that has been stolen and recovered by investigators
6. __________ ownership of property that has been recovered by the investigators.

TECHNIQUES IN NUMBER RESTORATION:

A. Chemical Etching / Acid Etching / Macro-Etching Method
 The most commonly used technique which relies upon the phenomenon that the rate of
reaction between the applied chemicals and the substrate can ______________________
_______________
 The chemicals used depend upon the composition of the substrate which ranges from
simple alkaline solutions to complicated mixtures which result in an oxidation/reduction
reaction with the metal

Reagents and solutions used vary according to the metal from which numbers have
been obliterated
1. Conduct physical examination of the motor vehicle note the make, type, color, plate
number, chassis and engine number.
2. Clean the metal surface where the chassis number is normally located. Remove any oil,
dirt, grease and paint using xylol or acetone.
3. Apply macro-etching solution using a cotton swab by repeatedly stroking over the
surface. It may be applied also by means of eye dropper. The surface is not allowed to
dry. Great patience will be required as the numbers or marks may not be eligible in
some cases after hours of effort.
4. Photograph the affected area when numbers or marks are visible.
5. Wash the whole area with diluted ammonia solution to neutralize the acid.

B. Heat Treatment
 This is a highly successful technique with particular application to restoring obliterated
serial numbers on cast-iron substrates where heat is applied directly to the obliterated
area until the metal glows a _________________
 One significant advantage is ______; a heat treatment can at times be completed in a
matter of minutes, whereas chemical etching is generally a much slower process

SPOT DETECTION OF OBLITERATED OR TAMPERED SERIAL NUMBERS:

1. The serial number is concealed or hidden
2. Presence of any signs of welding surrounding the serial numbers
3. Presence of several scratches and filling marks
4. Presence of concavity
5. Disalignment of numbers and digits
6. Double stamping of numbers and digits
7. Irregularity on size, style and spacing of individual letters and numbers
8. Uneven depthness in stamping of letters and digits.
9. Absence of rating plate
10. Absence of one or more letters before, in between or after a set of sequential digits.
11. Alteration of the production number
12. Model of the vehicle in the chassis number does not totally with that from the rating
plate.

Prepared by: Alfonso, Jarell Mae O. 3