‘Reasonably. Then again, it could have been unlocked and ripping it off somehow re-engaged the lock. Either way I can’t be certain and I’ll have to say the same in my report.’

As the crew manager left, Jane checked the garage door for herself but couldn’t tell if it was locked or unlocked as the metal pulley wire that would have been attached to it had been ripped off. She called out to Dabs, who was examining the interior of the car, to join her.

‘Can you remove the lock from the garage door?’ she asked as he approached.

He lifted the door from the wall, so he could see the exterior and interior mechanism of the lock.

‘It’s held in place by rivets that will need to be broken off with a hammer and chisel.’

‘Don’t damage the lock—’

‘I’ll get the traffic officer to help me as he’s got the right tools for the job, but why do you need it?’

‘It might be useful if we arrest a suspect and find a key that fits it.’

Dabs grinned. ‘Bit like Cinderella and the shoe . . . I have to say, Jane, you’re a good lateral thinker.’

‘Like I said before – Paul Lawrence taught me well.’

‘I doubt that it’s all down to him.’

‘Where’s PC Turner gone?’ she asked, looking around.

‘He’s on his car radio about the chassis plate. He’s really into his work and it’s actually quite interesting how much a chassis plate can tell you. He managed to clean a lot of the burn damage off and used . . . Actually, ask him to show you how he got the details from the plate – it’s quite simple but ingenious.’

Jane did as Dabs had suggested and Turner held up the chassis plate for her to see.

‘A good rub down with a few chemicals allowed me to record some of the details, then to get the rest I used this.’ He held up a lump of plasticine. ‘Although you can’t read some of the numbers and letters on the top side of the burnt plate, the original stamping leaves marks on the underside. I pressed it into this plasticine and got most of the numbers and letters missing from the top – simple but effective, don’t you think?’

‘And I thought Play-Doh was just for kids.’

‘Actually, I made this myself, with flour, water, salt, boric acid and mineral oil.’

‘Have you got enough detail from the plate to identify the registration and owner?’

He handed her a bit of paper on which he’d written down the information on the chassis plate.

‘The details provide information on things like the manufacturer, country of origin, body style, engine type, model year, assembly plant, and production number.’

‘And the owner is . . . ?’ Jane asked, wanting him to get to the point.