Introduction and background: DNA databases, both in Australia and the UK, were introduced and then extended, on the basis that they would target property offences, among which were domestic burglaries and car thefts (Vanstone 1998:13–17; Blakey 2000:xii, 13). This application of DNA databases was, in turn, used to justify legislation that provided for extensive DNA sampling of suspects to help apprehend those responsible for such offences (Green 2000:10). Despite this, while a review of the literature revealed papers that provided a more general overview of DNA use in the Australian criminal justice system (Gans & Urbas 2002, for example), no Australian criminological studies were found that evaluated the effects in court of DNA evidence on such offences.