A jeweler reported that his safe was cracked overnight. Detective Sterling arrived to find the heavy steel door swinging wide open. The dial combination was still set to the owner's birthday. Sterling noticed a thick layer of dust undisturbed on top of the safe dial, but clean fingerprint smudges directly on the inside locking latch. Sterling arrested the jeweler. Why?
The combination wasn't used
If the safe dial combination was still set to the owner's birthday and had undisturbed dust on top of the dial, nobody spun the dial to open it. The safe was opened using a key or left unlocked from the inside, meaning no break-in occurred.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Medium. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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