When everyone’s wearing a mask, identifying a crime suspect is more challenging for police.
Timmins Police communications coordinator Marc Depatie calls it “an extra hurdle.”
Should you be a crime victim or a witness, Depatie says there are things like distinctive footwear, clothing and hats that you can notice — even the masks themselves.
“People are wearing masks that are unique to perhaps a sports team that they favour or some other messaging is on it that’s perhaps funny or somehow unique to that person,” he says.
There are also facial characteristics beyond what the mask covers.
“Eye colour is important,” Depatie notes, “whether or not they’re wearing glasses; mannerisms, tattoos – all these things are, typically speaking – unique to one person.”
A crime victim or witness should also notice the direction the bad guy takes when he runs away, and whether he got into a vehicle.