subject: Small Business Owner: You Should Consider a Private Investigator [print this page] Small Business Owner: You Should Consider a Private Investigator
For many people, the words "private investigator" conjure up many different television characters such as Magnum, PI, Perry Mason, or even Jessica Fletcher. Professional or amateur, television investigators are much different from their real-life counterparts and you may not be aware that you could actually benefit from their services. Private detectives do much more than tracking wayward spouses to prove infidelity. In fact, a PI can be useful in obtaining just about any information you may need about someone you are in business with.
Investigators are used in a variety of business situations in which you may need to uncover more details than appear on the surface. If you are hiring a new employee for a key position, a PI can do a background check to confirm whether the experience listed on their resume is legitimate or not. Do you have a staff member on long term sick leave, and you suspect something fishy is going on? They can be followed or bugged (listened to) to make sure that they are truly ill and not taking a ski or beach holiday on your dime. Private detectives can also uncover information about internal thefts, injury claims and many other workplace concerns.
Different Methods of Surveillance
Using cutting-edge technology, detectives can track vehicles using GPS monitoring. They can take photos and videos as well as provide voice recordings using hidden cameras. Whether these cameras are worn by your private investigator, hidden in the workplace or company vehicle depends on the type of surveillance required. Much of the work in tracking down suspects and knowing their whereabouts and activities can be done remotely, making the use of a private detective truly covert.
Hiring a Firm
No matter what type of technology or equipment is used, it is important to make sure that your chosen agency obtains their information or recordings in a legal manner. You need to be sure that they are not breaching someone's privacy on your behalf and that if you need to pursue justice your findings will stand up in a court of law. Many private investigators have websites where you can read up about how and where they work. They may share a bit about recent cases and how they can benefit your company. If you are interested, request a quote or a follow-up appointment. You may be surprised by what they can uncover!
