AN EVALUATIVE STUDY ON CRIMINALISTICS: STOCK THEFT SCENES

Abstract

The scientific study and evaluation of evidence found at a crime scene have helped in solving criminal cases resulting in the apprehension of potential perpetrators, including stock thieves. The locations to obtain Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) evidence are vast, which consist of clothing, bodily fluids (semen, saliva, sweat, blood), fingerprints, tissue, skin cells and hair roots, among other things. This paper evaluates the policing of stock theft through the application of criminalistics in the form of DNA evidence to link a suspect to stock theft scenes. The sample for this comprises 15 participants of the South African Police Service Stock Theft Units (SAPS STUs) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), chosen purposively. A qualitative research approach was adopted for proper analysis. This paper found that each stock theft scene differs from the next, and each must be approached with its own merits. It can never be prescribed to the first investigator, by means of rules and regulations, on how to proceed with each case. This paper further reveals the value of criminalistics (DNA materials) and policing in investigating stock theft in the selected SAPS STUs in KZN by confirming that the accuracy of this application is beyond doubt and when done in the correct way, the tests conducted are infallible. This paper recommends that for the effective policing of stock theft by the SAPS STUs in KZN (Newcastle – Bulwer, Ladysmith and Bulwer – Pietermaritzburg) the application of criminalistics (DNA) evidence should be incorporated. This procedure could produce the desired results with regard to an increase in high-quality maintenance of the chain of custody during the investigation of these cases. Key Words: 

Keywords

• Crime scene(s),criminalistics,routine activity theory,stock theft,KwaZulu-Natal Stock Theft Units

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