The Dutch forensic institute NFI coupled 3,326 DNA samples to people on its DNA register last year, a 35% increase on 2006, the NFI said in its annual report, published on Tuesday.

The bulk of the links (90%) were in connection with a crime. In the Kennermerland region, for example, 70 crimes were finally tied to one suspect through DNA traces, the NFI said. In another case, a burglar who left behind a half-eaten biscuit was traced by the DNA in his saliva.
The DNA data bank has some 36,000 traces and 53,000 personal profiles. Since 2005, the DNA of everyone found guilty of a crime with a sentence of at least four years is added to the register, news agency ANP reported.