Traces
At some point in your search for the missing person you may come across traces. You should handle such traces with great care. Below are some tips from Sarea on how to recognize and handle traces.
Urgent advice
- If you find a relevant trace, contact the police.
- Always follow the instructions from the police. Do not proceed on your own.
- Consult with the police about the next steps to be taken or wait for a police officer.
How to act.
Recognizing traces
What is a trace? A trace can be an item that the missing person was carrying on them and then lost. Notable irregularities in the surroundings can also be traces. Examples include footprints, shoeprints, and vehicle tyre tracks.
Look for any means of transport the missing person may have used, or for personal belongings such as clothes or a bank card.
Examples include shoeprints, footprints, tyre tracks or other irregularities in the surroundings.
If you see a trace!
This will ensure you don’t erase or destroy possible other traces en route to the original trace.
If you accidentally do touch it, report this immediately, so that this can be taken into account in any investigation that may follow.
Do not under any circumstances post the photograph on social media.
While searching you often notice things you normally wouldn’t see or would hardly notice. Therefore, you should discuss thoroughly with each other whether the trace is linked to the person you are looking for.
It is extremely important that relevant traces are handled with care. The police have knowledge and expertise. Therefore, contact the police if you find a relevant trace.
You can do so by pinpointing the location on Google Maps or by sending your location to the coordinator via WhatsApp.
To avoid contamination from other traces, make sure the trace does not come into contact with the object you use to cover it. Do not touch the trace yourself. One suitable option might be to place an umbrella over the object. Always consult with the police first.
Don’t eat, drink, or smoke near the trace, and don’t leave any rubbish. Don’t walk around the trace unnecessarily.
For example, you can check for traces within a 10-metre radius.
Wait at the relevant trace until the police arrive or have given further instructions.