A chip of paint can be an important source of trace evidence that helps investigators solve a crime such as a hit and run accident or a breaking and entering. Paint chips and flakes knocked off of a vehicle during a collision can help pinpoint a vehicle’s make, model and sometimes the year.
Paint can also identify a tool used to wedge open a door or window during a burglary. It is often the under layer of paint that provides the most information to an investigator.
Because paint is on most surfaces, it is a valuable source of evidence.