A rare manuscript was stolen from a glass case that required a four-digit PIN. The curator noted that the PIN was written on a sticky note attached to the back of the computer monitor. Three staff members knew where it was. Inspector Cruz checked the keypad and noticed two buttons had slightly faded paint, while the other eight buttons were pristine. How many digits were actually in the PIN?
Two digits
Only two buttons showed wear, meaning the PIN used only two unique numbers repeated, rather than four different digits.
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: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
More detective riddles
A courier was ambushed, and a briefcase of bearer bonds was stolen. The suspect had a cast on his left arm and claimed he couldn't possibly have wrestled the heavy briefcase away from the courier. The detective looked at the scuff marks on the pavement and the angle of the drag marks, then arrested the suspect. Why?
A woman walked into a police station claiming her expensive necklace was stolen from her hotel safe while she was asleep. She gave a detailed description of the suspect. Detective Cole looked at her hotel bill and immediately arrested her for filing a false report. What did the bill show?
Lord Blackwood was found slumped over his mahogany desk, a silver dagger in his back. The window was frozen shut from the inside, and the only door was bolted from within. A puddle of water sat on the rug beneath the open fireplace, but the logs were bone dry. The detective smiled and pointed to the melting icicles resting on the mantelpiece. How did the killer strike without entering?
Detective Blake arrived at a seaside cottage where an artist had drowned in a shallow indoor tub. The window was open, and sea spray covered the sill. The artist's shoes were caked in dry desert sand. Blake smiled and called for the transport van. Why?
A museum curator was found bound to a chair with his own silk tie. He claimed a thief snuck up behind him during museum hours, knocked him out, and stole the golden artifact from the central pedestal. Detective Nolan checked the security log and found that no visitors entered the museum that day. The curator insisted he was telling the truth. Nolan arrested him anyway. Why?
A courier was found dead in an alley with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. The briefcase had a digital countdown timer locked at zero, but it had not exploded; it simply emitted a high-pitched tone. The combination lock was set to '0000'. Detective Hayes opened the briefcase easily and found it empty. What was the purpose of the briefcase?

