What might indicate you are dealing with a simulated burglary rather than a true burglary?

When analyzing a crime scene, a lack of evidence can be a significant indicator that the situation may be a simulated burglary rather than an actual one. In a true burglary, investigators typically expect to find signs of forced entry, which can include evidence such as tool marks, disturbed property, fingerprints, or other elements indicating someone has unlawfully entered a space with the intent to commit a crime.

If no evidence is present at the scene, it raises skepticism about the authenticity of the burglary. A real burglary usually leaves behind physical traces, so encountering a scene devoid of any such indicators could suggest that the event was staged or fabricated. This could be part of a larger scheme, such as an insurance fraud operation, where the perpetrator seeks to create the illusion of a burglary without actually committing the crime.

The presence of valuable items untouched or forced entry with visible tool marks would typically support the notion of a genuine burglary. Witness accounts of suspicious activity could suggest a burglary might have occurred, but without physical evidence, the credibility of those accounts can be diminished. Thus, a lack of evidence stands as a key indicator of a simulated scenario.