| This article is the first in a series of articles | | | | using still and video cameras, binoculars, and a cell |
| focusing on private investigators; the work that | | | | phone, until all the evidence that they need is |
| they do and how they go about doing it. | | | | obtained. This surveillance can sometimes go on |
| Private detectives and investigators use a number | | | | for hours or days. |
| of methods to investigate a variety of matters | | | | Detectives may also do things like perform |
| ranging from tracking a cheating husband to | | | | computer searches through databases or work |
| finding a missing person. To carry out their | | | | with someone who does, if they're not proficient |
| investigations, they use a number of surveillance | | | | with computers. Computers allow detectives to |
| techniques and tools. To verify facts they make | | | | get an enormous amount of information in a very |
| phone calls, or visit a particular place of residence | | | | short time. When investigating a particular person |
| or work. When investigating missing persons they | | | | they can get information on individuals' prior |
| will go as far as interviewing everyone who ever | | | | arrests, convictions, and civil legal judgments; |
| knew the person, even friends and relatives who | | | | telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations; |
| hadn't seen the person in years. In all these cases | | | | association and club memberships; and a number |
| private investigators assist attorneys, businesses | | | | of other things. If it's a matter of public record a |
| and even private citizens with legal, financial and | | | | private detective will find it. |
| personal problems. | | | | The actual duties of a private detective really |
| These detectives offer a number of services | | | | depend on the needs of their clients. For example, |
| including executive, corporate, and celebrity | | | | in the case of employee theft a detective may |
| protection; pre-employment verification; and | | | | come to work for the company, in the guise of |
| individual background investigations. They also | | | | being another employee for the purpose of |
| investigate computer crimes such as identity | | | | observing this person. They may even go as far |
| theft, emails of harassment, and illegal downloading | | | | as to strike up a friendship with the suspect. If |
| of copyrighted material such as songs and sheet | | | | this sounds like a 1950s grade B movie, it is more |
| music. They will also investigate matters involving | | | | real than you can possibly imagine. Things like this |
| civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance | | | | go on all the time. Eventually if the detective |
| claims and fraud, child custody and protection | | | | spots the employee doing something illegal or gets |
| cases, missing persons cases, and premarital | | | | him to confess to his crimes through their |
| screening. Often they will be hired to prove or | | | | friendship, he will report this first to the employer |
| disprove infidelity, which are some of the most | | | | and then eventually testify to this in court. |
| common cases they handle. | | | | In our next article in this series we will continue |
| Most detectives are trained to do physical | | | | with the duties of a private detective and some |
| surveillance. They'll do things like observe a site | | | | of the different types that you will find as there |
| like a person's home, usually from a well hidden | | | | are specialists in this field. |
| vehicle or location. They'll perform this surveillance | | | | |