A priceless golden artifact was stolen from a glass display case. The curator insisted no one could have opened the case because the electronic sensor was never triggered. Detective Drake examined the case and found the alarm wire neatly severed. Why didn't the alarm sound when the wire was cut?
The alarm was already bypassed
Cutting a closed-circuit alarm wire typically triggers it. If it didn't trigger, the thief must have shunted or bypassed the circuit before cutting it, or the system was turned off.
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.
More detective riddles
A jewel thief was cornered in a deserted warehouse with three doors. Door A leads to a furnace blazing at 500 degrees. Door B leads to a pack of starving lions that haven't eaten in a year. Door C leads to a room filled with deadly venomous snakes. Which door is the safest for the thief to escape through?
An explorer was found dead in his tent in the Sahara Desert, wearing a heavy winter parka, snow boots, and ski goggles. Next to him was an empty backpack. The local tracker told Detective Cole that the man died of thirst, not exposure. Cole nodded, knowing the backpack contained the clue to why he was dressed for a blizzard in the desert.
The night watchman reported a break-in at the art gallery. He claimed he heard a loud crash in the sculpture room, rushed in, and found a shattered window and a missing bronze bust. The detective inspected the broken window glass and pointed out that the watchman was lying. How did the glass prove it?
The curator of the maritime museum was found locked inside a giant glass aquarium tank, which was slowly filling with water. The heavy steel door of the tank was bolted from the outside. Three suspects stood nearby: the rival historian, the terrified intern, and the master locksmith. Each claimed they had no idea how the curator got inside. Detective Sterling pointed to the floor vent and arrested the locksmith. Why?
A suspect told Detective Miller he spent the entire stormy night driving along the coastal highway with his headlights on to guide his way. Miller checked the car and arrested him on the spot. What was wrong with his story?
Inspector Vance found the victim slumped over a desk with a punctured tea cup, a fresh ink stain on her right index finger, and a window blown wide open by a winter gale. The heating vent was blasting hot air, and a heavy iron paperweight sat on the floor. Vance immediately arrested the victim's business partner for staging a fake burglary. How did he know?

