FINGERPRINT SYSTEM

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 244, 17 November 1930, Page 8

FINGERPRINT SYSTEM

SEVERAL ROBBERIES IN SYDNEY TWO1 MEN ARRESTED. Search through many _ thonsands of finger-prints at the Criminal Investigation Branch in Sydney lately led to two men being charged with a series of robberies in the Campsie district, the proceeds of which amounted to hundreds of pounds. Much property has heen recovered from pawnshops and other places. Two suspects were arrested and their finger-prints takou. They were submitted next morning to the fingerprint experts, who tlieu commenccd to search through the finger-prints which had been secured at the scenos of crimes. Among the vast number of prints to he searched were some obtained on docks, 011 a broken window-pane, 011 a polished table, 011 ornaments and door handles. B_y five o'clock in tlie afternoon the experts reported that the finger-prints of the two arrested men liad heen found on property in six widely-separated liouses wliieli had heen robhecl. Accordingly, the men were formally charged with the oifences. The identification of the fingerprints was made possible by the new "single" finger-print system inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chjlds, less than 18 months ago. Under tlie new system each finger-print is indexed separately. It is comprehensive and intrieate, but during the time it has been in operation it had led directly to nearly 140 convictions.