Developing Informational Skills

The informational skills that the experienced private investigator learns how to develop include physical surveillance, public records searches, interviewing, and inspection. The professional private investigator develops these skills into a fine art. Over time, the skills are fine-tuned so that the smallest detail or possibility is not overlooked. Often, a piece of information doesn't, at first, look newsworthy but when combined with details already collected, it forms a piece of the puzzle leading to a correct conclusion that would not otherwise have been uncovered. (Another reason that it is worthwhile for the layperson to consult an experienced professional.)

Although most share commonalities, every investigation is unique unto itself. It has a "life" of its own. Often, an investigator doesn't know exactly how a puzzle piece will fit until he or she uncovers it.

Professional investigators are skilled at developing the most minute detail that can often be used to crack a case. Once cracked, the case is more likely to resolve into a desired conclusion.

Visit my website for more information.

The Nature of Private Investigation

A professional private investigator is a person who engages in the collection of facts of people, places, and things. He or she is often empowered (by attorneys or the courts) with more powers or "rights" than the average American citizen and has developed a special body of knowledge and skills that permit him or her to collect information in a more efficient and effective manner than an inexperienced, untrained person would be able to do.

When in the process of obtaining information, private investigators usually focus on the universal principle of the five Ws, which are: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

• In order to develop information the investigator has to know where to look.
• There are certain skills needed that will help collect the information.
• Oftentimes investigators will not be sure exactly what they are looking for until they find it.
• Information that appears unimportant on the surface often becomes a key in the investigation at a later date.
• After information is obtained, it needs to be recorded, analyzed, and compared to what is already known in order for it to be decided what needs to be done next.
• The information needs to be organized and then presented in an organized fashion.

Everyone is an investigator at times. The difference between a professional private investigator and a layperson is that the professional performs the activity that develops information every day and, in doing so, develops a keen perceptive sense of knowing where to look. Over time, the professional investigator develops special sources of information and fine tunes skills that will help in development of the information. After some experience in the field is gained, the experienced investigator is able to develop and process information much faster and obtain better quality information than the layperson. For this reason, it is preferable and desirable to hire a professional investigator rather than try to do the investigation yourself.

Visit my website for more information.

Private Investigators' Top Ten Ways to Tell if a Spouse is Cheating!!

According to those with experience in detection and surveillance, these are the top ten ways to tell if a spouse or significant other is cheating:

1. Exhibition of a changing attitude toward your relationship: they are more argumentative, critical, or distant; they are less affectionate and profess a need for "more space."

2. Unexplained absences: they stay later at work, leave the office for lunch more often, spend more time "with friends" or pursuing a new hobby during evenings and weekends or they are frequently off running lengthy "errands."

3. Increase in personal expenses: they seem to go through pocket money at faster rates and have a jump in credit card expenses.

4. Change in patterns of telephone use: they spend more time on the phone and seem anxious to be the one to answer the phone when it rings; there are mysterious in-coming calls, hang-ups, and wrong numbers, or they suddenly need a new cell phone or pager.

5. They pay greater attention than usual to their physical appearance; they begin a new diet or exercise program; they purchase new clothing and fragrance or change hairstyles and begin getting manicures/pedicures.

6. They show a new interest in mail delivery; they want to be the first to get to the mail; they hide phone bills or credit card statements; they receive mysterious letters (usually not in postcard form).

7. There are articles of unknown origin left in the home or vehicle; these could be slips of paper with names/phone numbers, matchbooks, and/or different brands of cigarettes or gum

8. Strange marks upon body (scratches, bites, skin irritations) or stains on clothing (lipstick, makeup stains).

9. Unexplained odors; they come home smelling of fragrance or tobacco that is not their own.


10. Decreased interest in sex or changes in sex drive; more aggressive and less tender; desire to try new techniques or positions.

Visit my website for more information.

The Role of Surveillance in Private Detection

When a security camera catches critical footage, it often takes a lot of work on the part of investigators to secure usable images. The field of video forensics is constantly expanding, enabling police to monitor video feeds for clues in solving their cases and through the "magic" of computer enhancement, analysts are now able to convert previous fuzzy images into clear pictures of suspects.

The technology of surveillance has been measurably improved since the early 1960s when bank cameras could not even capture the movements of people.

In the 1990s, the advent of digital technologies has improved picture quality and made monitoring much easier. A case in point would be the recently documented episode wherein a surveillance camera in a Kohl's parking lot caught a mother shoving her 4 year old daughter into the backseat of her SUV. The mother eventually surrendered to police and was brought up on child abuse charges.

We will explore this topic in more depth in the weeks ahead. Visit my website for more information.