An antique pocket watch stopped ticking precisely at 8:15 AM, covered in dust on a shelf. The suspect claims he was at the bakery across town from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Detective Gable looked at the watch, noted the time, and arrested the suspect for the morning robbery. What did Gable notice about the watch?
The watch was a mechanical wind-up pocket watch that had been deliberately smashed or stopped to fake a alibi time, but it was found on a shelf where it had been gathering dust for days, meaning it wasn't dropped during a struggle at 8:15 AM today.
Dust accumulation indicates a long period of disuse, contradicting the idea that the watch was active and stopped during the morning crime.
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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