Fred was a security guard watching over a valuable diamond on display. He decided to take a tea break while three other people - an elderly man, a well-dressed woman, and a scruffy young man - were viewing the diamond. When Fred returned, the diamond had been stolen. Detective Finder is called in to investigate. He finds evidence that the security system was tampered with by an expert. Fingerprints at the scene include those of Fred and the three viewers. Two sets of prints are unknown.

1. Detective Finder was taken aback.
He had never dreamed that he would
be staring into the void that now
gaped before him. It was impossible
that someone had masterminded such
an unbelievable feat..

2. 2 Hours earlier….
Fred was bored. He had been watching the display
case in the centre of the room for 3hours and
15minutes. He was looking forward to his tea
break-4pm-only 5 minutes to go. He could almost
taste the tea and digestives. A lady in a red velvet
jacket and jeans was staring at the diamond. She’d
been there for about 15 minutes. Fred had done
the same thing himself when he had first seen it. It
was huge and the colours that radiated off it were
fabulous. She was tall, elegant. Looked like the sort
of woman who had cabinets full of precious gems,
silver and, of course, gold to match her hair. She
kept smiling and nodding her head as she circled the
display case. “Awestruck,” thought Fred as he
watched her viewing the gem.

3. A young man shuffled through several times.
Shoes flapping on the end of his skinny legs. Green
sweatshirt hanging like a dirty rag from his
emaciated body. Stopping, he furtively looked
around, before moving off to another gallery. Fred
clocked him straightaway. Too stupid to defeat the
security system- nothing to worry about there.
Just as Fred rose to go on his break he heard a low
cough coming from the corner of the room.
Turning, he noticed an elderly gentleman slowly
making his way up to the display case. Stooped
shoulders encased in a heavy overcoat. Fred
wondered if he would feel the cold as much when
he was older. The gentleman made slow progress
across the room. Fred smoothed the wrinkles out
of his old navy uniform, stood , stretched and
strolled towards the exit. “ A fast getaway, “ he

4. Fred’s watch showed 3:10pm. The display flashing
silently. Time for his tea break. Should he wait for
Jim to relieve him? No, he was always a few
minutes late and there wasn’t anyone in the gallery
likely to steal a diamond in broad daylight. Fred
decided to leave them to it.
The lady turned to watch as he walked steadily to
the exit. She smiled at him then raised her hand
in a little wave. Fred wondered why she had done
that. He didn’t notice a handsome man striding
purposefully towards the gallery from the
westerly direction. Had Fred stayed at this post
he might have seen the man shake hands with the
lady in the red velvet jacket. He might have
noticed the lady hand him her handbag. But Fred
was already out of the door, the smell of tea
already assailing his nostrils.

5. Fred wandered back into the gallery fully
expecting to see Jim grinning at him from his
stool. He stopped dead in his tracks. Jim was no
where in sight. Neither was the diamond!
He dialled 999 immediately.
Detective Finder was on his way.
Imagine you are Detective Finder.
From the account you have just read:
• list your suspects.
•Why are they suspects.

6. Finder began with a thorough search of the area
to try to ascertain how the gem had been stolen.
It was apparent that someone had known had
tampered with the master box. There were wires
spilling out, some were cut, others had been cut
and reconnected. Whoever did this was a security
systems expert. Finder and his team combed the
area methodically. Finally they dusted for prints.
Back at the lab Finder laid out the evidence that
he had collected.

7. Imagine you are Detective Finder.
•What do you think this evidence is?
Base your answers on the text if possible.
•Who do you think left this evidence, Why?

8. There were 6 sets of prints on the display
case.
1 set belonged to Fred.
1 Set belonged to the lady – Mrs. Whittle.
1 set belonged to the old gentleman- Mr
White.
1 set belonged to the scruffy young man- Mr
Web.
2 sets were unknown.

9. Finder questioned those who were still in the
gallery. It seems that none of the people who
were viewing the diamond when Fred left for
his tea break saw anything. All claim to have
left the room shortly after Fred.
Jim was apparently on duty in another room
and says that he forgot about relieving Fred
for his break.
This meant the gallery was left unattended
for 15 minutes.
CCTV cameras mysteriously went blank for
about 3 minutes at 4:03pm.

10. Imagine you are Detective Finder.
•Remember to use the text as evidence.
•How was the diamond stolen?
•Who did it?