ST. PETERS, MO (KMOX) - A St. Peters-based company is gaining national attention for changing the way detectives log evidence.

It’s called E-Twist, and Primary Marking Solutions Product Manager PJ MacIntire says it uses barcode software to log evidence. The unique barcodes not only identify the object being scanned but also track its location using the global positioning system. Police simply download the software on their phones or tablets and then take a roll of stickers with them to the scene of a crime.

“[The stickers] have a barcode on it. You scan it, tell us what it is, who it belongs to, and where you found it,” MacIntire explained. “From there you can take pictures of it and, with the devices that we use, track the GPS coordinates of those photos.”

MacIntire says that allows police to remain organized and lessens occurrences of evidence loss. “It just keeps a lock on all the evidence so, if it does go to court, you have all your ducks in a row when it comes time, if you do get called to court to testify about the case.”

Local police departments in Maplewood, Creve Coeur and Frontenac are all using this system but Primary Marking Solutions has clients all over the country.

MacIntre estimates that E-Twist saves staff about 50 hours a week on evidence logging and tracking. “It cuts down on time and it just makes everyone accountable and pretty much locks up the evidence in the chain of custody,” he said.