Restoration of obliterated vehicle identification number using magneto optical imaging: case study

Abstract

Serial numbers serve as distinctive identifiers for various items, yet they can be intentionally removed by individuals engaged in criminal endeavours such as theft or the illicit use of stolen goods, obscuring their origin and ownership. Nowadays, numerous techniques exist for restoring erased serial numbers. Although chemical and electrochemical methods are well-known among investigators for their limitations, the technique of magneto-optical imaging (MOI) is frequently perceived as a novel approach, despite its widespread use in the field for over two decades globally. It stands out as a prominent technique utilized in forensic laboratories for the restoration of erased serial numbers engraved on metal surfaces. This experiment illustrates the functioning of the MOI technique for the restoration of VINs and exemplifies the outcomes through practical demonstrations.