SUSPECT METHODS

A SENIOR detective is training three officers to become detectives. To test their skills in recognising a suspect, he shows each of them the same photo for five seconds and then hides it.

“This is your suspect; how would you recognise him?” he asks the first officer.

“That’s easy,” the first officer answers. “He only has one eye!”

The senior detective is taken aback somewhat. “Well, er, that’s because the photo only shows his profile,” he says.

He then shows the photo to the second officer and asks him: “This is your suspect; how would you recognise him?”

The second officer laughs. “Ha! He’d be easy to catch because he only has one ear!”

Annoyed, the senior detective says: “What’s the matter with you two? Of course only one eye and one ear are showing; this guy’s been photographed in profile!”

Frustrated, he shows the photo to the third officer. “This is your suspect; how would you recognise him? And try to give me a sensible answer!”

The third officer looks at the picture intently for a moment and says: “The suspect wears contact lenses.”

The senior detective is very surprised, because he really doesn’t know himself if the suspect wears contacts or not. “Well, that’s an interesting answer,” he says. “Let me check his file.”

He goes to his office, checks the suspect’s file on his computer, then returns to the room with the three trainees. “Well, it’s true!” he exclaims. “The suspect does indeed wear contact lenses. Good work, officer! But tell me, how did you know?”

“That’s easy,” the third officer replies. “He can’t wear regular glasses because he only has one eye and one ear.” Havana Clew, email