Even though the modern private investigator is nothing like the Hollywood cliché, that’s still the image that many people have. They imagine a man with a fedora and trench coat chain smoking cigarettes, drinking whisky, and talking about “dames”. This cliché has a certain element of romanticism to it, but it is far from the truth when it comes to the modern PI. Things today are quite a bit different, and we certainly don’t talk about “dames”, drink on the job, or get into fistfights with hard talking gangsters down by the docks! That image of the PI is all Tinsel Town, and it’s all in the past. Let’s look at what today’s PI brings to the table.
Technology
One of the biggest changes to the PIs world, and to everyone’s world really, in the past few decades, has been technology. The technological advances help to make it far easier and faster to do a number of different things, such as search databases to find information about where someone resides or works. Today’s PI can do that in a fraction of the time that it would have taken in the past, and the clients can benefit from this as well. Since most investigators bill by the hour, reducing the amount of time it takes to come back with these searches and other information can make all the difference in the world.
Technology also makes it easier for the PIs to stay in contact with the clients through phone and email for updates. The cameras today make taking photos and recording video much easier as well. The images are clear as well, which was not always the case years ago. Other bits of technology help us to sweep for bugs to ensure your home or office is free of surveillance devices.
Older Techniques Still Work
Of course, technology cannot do everything. Investigation can still take some footwork, and it certainly needs the expertise and experience of a good investigator. For example, many times, companies need to find out whether one of their employees is lying about an injury in order to commit insurance fraud. PIs can follow the employee to public places and record instances of him or her doing things that the supposed injury would prevent. Sometimes, we find out the employee was telling the truth and that they really did have an injury.
We might also have to tail a husband suspected of cheating on his wife. Following suspected adulterers is one of the most common types of cases PIs deal with on a regular basis, and in order to get the required information, it takes a combination of good old-fashioned detective work and modern technology.
All Types of Cases
Modern PIs can tackle many different types of cases today to help clients in many different areas. In addition to helping those who feel their spouses are cheating and companies in fear of employees trying to bilk worker’s compensation, we can perform asset searches, background checks, help to find missing people, track down thieving employees, and do bug sweeps of the house. Today’s PI can also help with cold cases involving everything from white-collar crime to murder. In short, we can do just about everything.
If you have been worried about hiring a PI because you didn’t want to meet in a dingy, smoky office from the 1940s, don’t worry. We operate in real and modern offices and provide you with the best possible service. You can contact us by email or over the phone today to set up a free consultation so we can start helping you with your case whatever it might be.