The most common alteration to a static crime scene is the act of adding something from outside the scene. This often occurs when bystanders or unauthorized individuals inadvertently introduce new items or materials to the crime scene, which can complicate an investigation.
When something is added, it can obscure the original context of the evidence, lead to confusion regarding what was present at the time of the crime, and create additional hurdles in determining what was relevant to the incident being investigated. Such alterations can impact the integrity of the scene and potentially compromise the collection and analysis of evidence.
While removing evidence or altering original evidence may also happen, the addition of elements from the outside is typically more common because it can occur innocently and without intent to tamper. The victim's statement, although potentially subject to changes, is not a physical alteration of the crime scene itself. Thus, introducing new items from outside is recognized as a primary concern in crime scene management.