Legal Definitions - signature crime

A signature crime is a type of crime that is characterized by a specific pattern or behavior that is unique to the perpetrator. This pattern or behavior is often used to identify and link multiple crimes to the same individual.

For example, a serial killer may have a signature crime of leaving a specific type of mark on their victims' bodies. This mark would be unique to the killer and could be used to link multiple murders to the same person.

Another example of a signature crime is a burglar who always leaves a specific type of tool or object at the scene of the crime. This could be used to identify and link multiple burglaries to the same person.

Signature crimes are important in criminal investigations because they can help law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend serial offenders. By recognizing the unique patterns or behaviors of a particular criminal, investigators can build a profile of the offender and use this information to track them down.