Private detectives and investigatorsPrivate detectives and investigators use many means to determine the facts in a variety of matters. To carry out investigations, they may use various types of surveillance or searches. To verify facts, such as an individual�s place of employment or income, they may make phone calls or visit a subject�s workplace. In other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background checks, investigators often interview people to gather as much information as possible about an individual. In all cases, private detectives and investigators assist attorneys, businesses, and the public with a variety of legal, financial, and personal problems. Private detectives and investigators offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. They also provide assistance in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, and premarital screening. Increasingly, they are hired to investigate individuals to prove or disprove infidelity. Most detectives and investigators are trained to perform physical surveillance, often for long periods, in a car or van. They may observe a site, such as the home of a subject, from an inconspicuous location. The surveillance continues using still and video cameras, binoculars, and a cell phone, until the desired evidence is obtained. They also may perform computer database searches, or work with someone who does. Computers allow detectives and investigators to quickly obtain massive amounts of information on individuals� prior arrests, convictions, and civil legal judgments; telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations; association and club memberships; and other matters. The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their client. In cases for employers involving workers� fraudulent compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of subjects. If an investigator observes a subject performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a workers� compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it to the client. Private detectives and investigators often specialize. Those who focus on intellectual property theft, for example, investigate and document acts of piracy, help clients stop the illegal activity, and provide intelligence for prosecution and civil action. Other investigators specialize in developing financial profiles and asset searches. Their reports reflect information gathered through interviews, investigation and surveillance, and research, including review of public documents. Legal investigators specialize in cases involving the courts and are normally employed by law firms or lawyers. They frequently assist in preparing criminal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also may collect information on the parties to the litigation, take photographs, testify in court, and assemble evidence and reports for trials. Corporate investigators conduct internal and external investigations for corporations other than investigative firms. In internal investigations, they may investigate drug use in the workplace, ensure that expense accounts are not abused, or determine if employees are stealing merchandise or information. External investigations typically prevent criminal schemes originating outside the corporation, such as theft of company assets through fraudulent billing of products by suppliers. Financial investigators may be hired to develop confidential financial profiles of individuals or companies who are prospective parties to large financial transactions. They often are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and work closely with investment bankers and accountants. They search for assets in order to recover damages awarded by a court in fraud or theft cases. Detectives who work for retail stores or hotels are responsible for loss control and asset protection. Store detectives, also known as loss prevention agents, safeguard the assets of retail stores by apprehending anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property. They prevent theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery personnel, and even store employees. Store detectives also conduct periodic inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms, and restrooms, and sometimes assist in opening and closing the store. They may prepare loss prevention and security reports for management and testify in court against persons they apprehend. Hotel detectives protect guests of the establishment from theft of their belongings and preserve order in hotel restaurants and bars. They also may keep undesirable individuals, such as known thieves, off the premises. Related news articles UPDATE: Trenton Duckett's father hires private investigator - 16 Oct 2006 Tampa Bay's 10,Leesburg, Florida - The father of the two-year-old Leesburg boy that disappeared from his bedroom in August is hiring a private investigator. ... More checks needed on employees - 16 Oct 2006 TVNZ,...that it's the most trusted, and I use that word in quotation marks, employee who turns out to be the worst offender," says Private Investigator Trevor Morley. ... Cheaters Beware! New Book 'Confessions of a Love Dick - How ... - 16 Oct 2006 Yahoo! News (press release)...can secure the evidence of an affair in progress) BEFORE shelling out a thousand dollars or more for the services of a private investigator, marital therapist ... Judge: Mrs. Moonda was suspect on Day 1; defense seeks more ... - 16 Oct 2006 Sharon Herald,...phase that Synenberg contends requires the additional legal manpower along with the help of a mitigation specialist, private investigator and psychiatrist. ... Moonda widow wants 3rd lawyer - 16 Oct 2006 Pittsburgh Post Gazette,In addition to three lawyers, Mrs. Moonda is asking for a private investigator, a psychologist and "a mitigation specialist" to help pore over her background. ... Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - 16 Oct 2006 New Republic,...clichéd literary forms. A woman (with great legs, of course) asks a private investigator to locate her missing husband. The woman ... Pick of the Night - 16 Oct 2006 International News Service,By TERRY RAMSEY. Vincent Gallagher, the gruff, violent private investigator (with a heart of gold, natch) played by Ray Winstone returns for a new series. ... Ray's home from home - 16 Oct 2006 Manchester Evening News,...here.". Ray, 49, again stars as private investigator Vincent Gallagher in four new films shot in Manchester earlier this year. "We ... Be Careful What You (Re)Sell On EBay - 16 Oct 2006 WebProNews,After having refused to remove the listing as requested by SalonQuest, Olson received another e-mail from a private investigator working on behalf of the ... Congress to subpoena private investigator - Sep 20, 2006 CNET News.com,WASHINGTON, DC--Congress has plans to subpoena Ron Delia, a private investigator and a central figure in Hewlett-Packard's now famous leak-hunting investigation ... No wrongdoing found by private investigator - Sep 24, 2006 Radio New Zealand,The New Zealand Institute of Professional Investigators says it has found no wrong-doing by the private investigator who looked into the Prime Minister, her ... Private Investigator Rejects TVNZ Report - Sep 21, 2006 newswire.co.nz,A private investigator claimed to have been hired by the Exclusive Brethren to look into the affairs of the Prime Minister and her husband is firmly rejecting ... Mass. private investigator cooperating in Hewlett-Packard case - Sep 18, 2006 Eyewitness News,BOSTON A private investigator from Needham is cooperating with investigations of Hewlett-Packard's conduct in obtaining personal information about the ... Chris Tarrant's wife 'hired private investigator' to expose his ... - Sep 19, 2006 24dash.com,Chris Tarrant's wife Ingrid has spoken out about the end of her marriage to the TV presenter. Ingrid Tarrant, 51, said she became ... Q&A: A chat with private investigator Bob Wojtylak - Sep 24, 2006 Lockport Union-Sun & Journal,...“Cheaters�? actually hires private investigators to do that work so what you’re actually seeing is a real private investigator doing his work. ... Keeping Criminals At Bay - Oct 15, 2006 Northern Courier,...monitor burglar alarms should have a current Security Guard’s Licence issued by the Department for Courts pursuant to the Private Investigator and Security ... Private Investigator Hired To Dig Dirt On God - Sep 28, 2006 Scoop.co.nz (press release),A private investigator has rocked the establishment by claiming that he has dossier of information about God that will send shock-waves and empty churches ... 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