Teaching resources

On The Trail Part 3: Checking for Previous Convictions

Even if you have the name of someone who matches the description of the thief, it does not prove that they committed the crime.

To add an extra piece to your evidence you should check whether there is any similarity between this crime and the one recorded in the datafile.

• Had they done something similar before?
  
• Did the person you found steal something?
  
• Was it money?

Ask for the newspaper report on the crime committed by the person you have identified in the datafile.

Is the newspaper report similar to the crime committed against Mr Perry? If it is, there is a better chance you have identified the right person.

Now ask whether you should write an official report on the case and how you solved it.