In less than three months, a Missouri senator says a controversial DNA law is working. Senator Matt Bartle says "cold hits" have led authorities to a rapist, two burglars and a car thief. Missouri's expanded DNA law went into effect August 28. Before the new law, Missouri required convicted felons to give DNA samples to a statewide database. Under the new law, people arrested for suspicion of violent felonies, sex offenses and burglaries are being entered into the system. Lawmakers say casting a bigger net will catch more fish.

Officers booking a suspect say they got another crime fighting tool, DNA profiling. Along with photographs and fingertips they swab offender's mouths for DNA. Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn says the new law showed results in 34 days. "We were pretty excited," Dunn says. He had faith the law would work but says he didn't think a five month old burglary at a Jasper County convenience store would be the first case in the state.

Investigators say 17-year-old Clinton M. Young broke in a window at a convienence store on the stateline, stole beer and bled on a cooler. "We may have never solved this crime," Dunn says.  Then another crime was committed. Police say Young and three other teens broke into the Carl Junction Elementary school. They were arrested and their DNA was collected. "It won't replace them but I believe DNA can be better than a fingerprint," Dunn says. Criminalists entered Young's DNA into the state database. The crime lab had a hit, meaning Young's DNA matched the DNA found at the convenience store.

"Initially burglary wasn't going to be included in this," Dunn says. DNA Criminalist Supervisor Jason Wyckoff says more unsolvable crimes could be next thanks to tiny clues. "Often burglaries are discovered days after the crime," Wyckoff says. "Typically we find things like cigarettes, pop cans, clothing and sometimes evidence with large amounts of DNA such as blood."

Every clue can be compared to a growing list of suspects' DNA. Dunn says the new law does have critics. "Every law is tested.  This one will be no different," Dunn says. Opponents of expanded DNA laws, including members of the American Civil Liberties Union, say they are an invasion of privacy and violate the fourth amendment protections of unreasonable search and seizures. "There is a provision if after 90 days you aren't charged the DNA is disposed of," Dunn says. "What else could you ask for?"

Officers on the streets and inside crime labs say the more suspects swabbed, the possiblity more crimes will be solved.

Young faces two second degree burglary charges. Across the state, investigators in three other cases say an arrestee's DNA matched DNA at a crime scene.