Arson is a crime that doesn’t paint a pretty picture. For one, it is, quite literally, a mess. For another, it will require sufficient proof and evidence that the reason behind the destruction of someone’s property can be attributable to human error or will. This is where the service of a private investigator can offer very valuable help.

What exactly is arson?
Arson refers to the burning of somebody else’s property and is considered as a criminal offense. It is a crime that is categorized either as felony arson or misdemeanor arson. Felony arson refers to the willful setting of fire while misdemeanor arson refers to negligent or reckless acts that lead to the burning and destruction of property, even if there is really no explicit intent or purpose to do so.

Why you might need the assistance of a private investigator
According to some researchers, about a quarter of the total number of fires that occur in the U.S. may involve arson. Curiously enough, not every suspected arson case gets prosecuted.

There are also certain regulations and guidelines that only professional investigators understand and can comply with that could help in the resolution of an arson case. Unless an individual or the firefighters and law enforcement officers find the real cause and can prove arson, it’s often best to employ the services of a private investigator.

What you can expect from a private investigator working in arson cases
During an investigation of suspected arson by a private investigator, you could expect his services to cover the following:

Vehicle, marine and structure
Most arson private investigators are trained in handling suspected arson cases involving different types of properties. Although it’s likely you’ll be hiring a PI who can work in your case, you might also want to consider someone who has extensive experience in a particular property type.

Identification of cause and origin
Cases involving fire can only be proven as arson if there is sufficient proof and evidence pointing to its real cause and origin. An arson private investigator has enough experience to know where to start looking for evidence and why. They are also more capable of locating, preserving and documenting the evidence and presenting it in a way that will hold in court.

Evidence analysis
Arson evidence can consist of any or all of the following: electrical, chemical and mechanical. A good arson private investigator can help support evidence by offering an objective analysis of the kind of evidence collected at the scene.

Expert testimony
An arson private investigator can provide sufficient support for evidence collected offering himself as an expert witness in a court. His testimony will be valuable since he has the expertise, skills and knowledge that a court of law will honor and accept.

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There are several reasons why most prospective employers and clients prefer private investigators with years of experience. One is that these detectives are much more aware of the law. Utmost care has to be taken to ensure that no violations of civil rights will occur in each investigation, particularly if it is being privately performed.

Take the case of spy software being used in New Zealand to monitor calls and messages on mobile phones. This software is frequently used by spouses who wish to track their significant other’s activities on their cellphones.

According to a group of private investigators in the country, the use of the software is questionable. It can be downloaded onto a mobile phone and programmed to keep track of all calls and text messages coming from that unit.

The spouse who enrolls in the service only has to go online, enter the manufacturer’s website and view the list of activities. The log will include pertinent data such as the date, time, number dialed and text messages sent.

According to the group, the act itself was a violation of the provisions contained in the Privacy Act. When people use their phones to communicate, they do so knowing that their exchange of information will be kept private and shared only between them and their recipient. The software makes it impossible.

When a private investigation becomes an offense
There are many similar spy software and other activities being performed by some private investigators that seem to push the accepted boundaries between permissible sleuthing and violation of the right to privacy. This can be troublesome, particularly if it breaches certain provisions in the law meant to protect people from illegal spying.

Already, laws that allow private investigators to perform their duties are being reviewed. Experienced practitioners, however, insist that the industry is being regulated by established laws. The provisions found in the Privacy Act and in other similar laws across the world not only protect individuals from unscrupulous practitioners of private investigation, they also prevent detectives from becoming tempted by unethical practices.

Regardless of their activities, people are still entitled to their inalienable right to perform certain activities in private. This is something that private investigators must understand and keep in mind. True, as technology changes, so do people’s capabilities to keep track of one another. It also changes the way people view things, which explains why the law also has to evolve in order to keep up with the changing needs of the times. Although investigating privately means learning to adapt to technology for convenience and efficacy, it should also be performed with utmost care, ensuring that established laws are not crossed.

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Fraud is a dangerous thing, and it’s more common than you think. They exist in both small and big companies. They exist whether the business is public or private. Fraud, if left to its own devices, can escalate in horrifyingly gigantic proportions. If you have reason to suspect that someone is practicing fraud in your firm, put a stop to it while it’s still early by hiring a private investigator.

Keep It Private
Hiring a private investigator allows you to solve problems discreetly. If your clients get one whiff of what might be happening in your company – that’s fraud in this case – they won’t bother waiting for explanations. They’ll simply leave, and your company will consequently lose.

How Fraud Takes Place
Fraud can occur anywhere. There’s fraud if improper payments exist either because someone from your company is receiving or making bribes. There’s fraud when certain company accounts turn out to be fictitious or misrepresented. There’s fraud when kickbacks are made. In any case, fraud always starts with a lie, and it’s a private investigator’s job to determine what those lies were and where they came from.

What Private Investigators Will Do
Background checks are usually the first task that private investigators will attend to when they’re called in for a fraud investigation. Background checks will let them know which key individuals have histories relevant to fraud. Credit scores, legal offenses, and judgments and liens are all significant indicators for a person to commit fraud.

Access is also something that private investigators will surely look into. Research and deduction will let them determine which key individuals had access to the necessary data or tools for committing fraud.

Lastly, private investigators may also be asked to work hand in hand with the management for creating a fail-proof fraud prevention strategy. Policies and procedures will be evaluated. Security and safety precautions will also be assessed and upgraded if necessary. Private investigators may also provide additional training for key personnel or employ regular background checks on employees.

Fraud investigations are normally performed by an external or in-house auditor. Now, auditors may be good at identifying discrepancies in accounts, but they’re not trained to be just as good in finding errors that has nothing to do with figures. If you want accurate results from a fraud investigation, you might want to consider having a private investigator to work with your auditor. Two minds, as they say, work better than one.

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Surveillance is arguably the most common task performed by private investigators. If you are interested in hiring one for this very purpose, here are several ways they could be of service to you.

Covert Video Cameras
Private investigators need not be personally involved in every case. There may be times, for instance, when you wish to keep certain matters private and you’d like to do the surveillance work yourself. In this case, many private investigation firms will be more than happy to assist you in obtaining the equipment you need for the job. A video camera is probably all you need for simple surveillance tasks, and you can usually purchase or rent one from the firm. These firms will also help you with installation if necessary.

Covert Video Surveillance and Photography
When what you’re after is more complex, it might be better to have private investigators more involved. They have the necessary resources as well as more sophisticated equipment to accomplish your objectives. Having them do the surveillance themselves isn’t just more affordable than having to purchase the entire system, but it’s bound to be more effective as they have years of experience in performing this kind of work.

Mobile Surveillance
Also known as tailing, mobile surveillance is what you need if you wish to discover the whereabouts or activities of a certain party. Mobile surveillance requires expertise; it’s not simply a matter of following a person’s trail while keeping out of sight. Again, advanced technology would also be required, and these gadgets are something you must not just know how to operate but ones you should know how to expertly use in order to attain your objective.

Counter Surveillance and Stalking
If you believe you are under surveillance then you can turn the tables around by hiring a private investigator firm to find out who’s interested in your activities and subject them to the same treatment. Again, this type of work isn’t something a civilian is capable of. It can even be dangerous, and that’s why it’s best left to the professionals.

Choosing the Right Private Investigation Firm
If you are interested in hiring a private investigation firm to do surveillance work, make sure that you don’t just base your decision on how much their services cost. Pay attention as well to the firm’s reputation, their success rate, and their expertise. In sensitive matters requiring surveillance, you need more than a private investigator you can afford, but you need someone you can trust as well.

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Many people today have double jobs by moonlighting as private investigators during their free time. If you’re looking for an interesting, challenging, and nice-paying job on the sides, you should seriously consider working as a private investigator.

Getting Ready for Private Investigation
Working as a private investigator may seem glamorous and mysterious at first glance, but most of the time, it often involves lots of paperwork and routine surveillance activities. If you wish to be a private investigator, you need to be resourceful, perspicacious, and used to speaking with all kinds of people. Most importantly of all, you need to be at least able to protect yourself when your cover’s blown and you get into a spot of trouble.

Information is the Answer
In contrast to what you mostly see in movies, information gathering is not always an exciting routine. In many cases, it only involves going through documents and collecting data. A private investigator must be knowledgeable and skilled in all kinds of information gathering techniques, some of which are described below.

Research is the most common method used to finding information. You need to know your way around libraries and other places where public documents are kept. The right contacts can also help you in your research as they can give you access to documents that aren’t disclosed to the public.

Interviewing skills are also critical, and you need to know how to interview people both as a private investigator and as someone working undercover. It’s important as well to know the right questions to ask at the right time and with the right tone if you’re interviewing someone in person, over the phone, online, or in another method of communication.

In some areas of private investigation, forensic knowledge is also critical. This, however, is something that you just can’t learn by yourself. You’ll need to enroll in a special course for this, but rest assured that it will come handy in your job, especially when you’re working as a criminal private investigator.

Finally, surveillance is another excellent way of gathering information and commonly used by private investigators. When doing surveillance work, it’s important to remember that maintaining your cover is more dependent on how you act the part rather than just how you look the part.

As you can see, most of the skills you need as a private investigator are something you can develop on your own. There is, however, one other thing besides forensics that you can only excel through practice and learning from a professional, and that’s self-defense. Learn how to protect yourself because you can’t solve a case if you’re hurt.

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If you like detective work and being part of the team that solves a case, you might want to consider starting a private investigation company. But is it cheap or will it require a significant expense? Here are the costs you need to know about in case you’re considering investing on your own private investigation firm:

Cost of training
Unless you have prior experience in detective or police work, you will have to spend to obtain the proper training. Most states and jurisdictions require P.I.s to be certified and carry a license. To do that, you will have to undergo training as a private investigator.

Cost of licensure and permits
Once you’ve obtained the training, you will need to become a legal business entity. Different states have different requirements that you must meet, so it pays to check your locality to find out what you need to comply with. If you wish to practice on more than one state, you will have to comply with all the requirements of each jurisdication.

Fees for licensure vary, although you can expect to shell out around $400 for an individual license and around $500 for a business license. These licenses are valid for about 2 years. You will also have to pay for fingerprinting fees, which cost around $75.

Office and facilities
Unless you’re running your private investigation company from home, you will have to invest on a decent office space. This should be somewhere that’s easy for your clients to find. You’ll have to spend for the rental or lease and cost of facilities such as power, water, telephone line/s and Internet connection.

Equipment
Probably the most considerable investment you’ll have to make on a private investigation company would be the cost of equipment. You’ll need at least one computer, sufficient office furniture, a camera and videocam. And of course, you’ll have to spend for the most basic ’spy’ gadgets such as binoculars, voice recorders, listening devices, tracking devices, bug detectors, night vision and even products for self-defense.

And yes, you’ll probably need a car or vehicle of some sort to get you mobile.

Software
Modern private investigation work often relies on technology to make searches, background checks and referencing faster and more convenient. This can cost from a few hundred bucks to a few thousand, depending on the type and number of applications you buy.

Although purchasing software may seem like unnecessary expense, you’ll find that it will save you a lot of money and legwork in the future. With investigation software, you don’t have to leave your office just to conduct a search or verify someone’s identification.

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Private investigation has grown considerably in recent decades, taking cues and drawing from disciplines such as molecular biology, forensic science, and behavioral science. There are more tools that private investigators can use when dealing with their subjects, and these tools can make investigation easier, not to mention faster.

Surveillance systems used to be bulky, and private investigators often needed large vans to hold their machines together. Today, some private investors will use large vans, but others can rely on microchip-sized spying equipment. With the advent of Internet technology, private investigators will not even need a bug – they can use the Internet to gather phone records, and to go through archives of chats, message board posts, and even forum posts in order to find out more about their clients. Because messaging and information dissemination are so much faster and less reliant on old machines, private investigators can have an easier time tracking their subjects down.

Moreover, because of networking technology, private investigators can see PC’s from afar: when their subjects turn on their computers, private investigators can spy and know what the subjects are doing, what they are accessing online, and what files they are downloading. Such technology can be useful for tracking the activities of cheating spouses, or for cracking down on pornography rings, which start online. However, private investigators have to always be one step ahead of their subjects, as evolving technology also enables people to find ways to cover their tracks skillfully.

But what happens when you cannot track what a person is doing? Thankfully, we always leave something behind, and this time, private investigators can make use of DNA technology in order to identify cells that their subjects might leave behind at a certain location – this can point to a person being in that location, and, coupled with circumstantial plus eyewitness evidence, can be useful in the courts of law. DNA identification can be carried out on skin cells, hair (through the hair follicles), semen (especially in rape cases), and even sputum, which carries buccal, or inner cheek cells.

Private investigators can use these new techniques in order to track down people, get a clearer view of their subjects’ habits, and, in general, support law enforcement officers in bringing people to justice. As the Internet becomes all the more pervasive, and as more and more people find ways to elude the force of the law, private investigators will need to have better tools of their trade in order to do their job and keep up with the changing times.

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Crime scenes are the most challenging things to investigate. The job of a private investigator seems to be a very hard and stressful job because of the pressure one is subjected to especially when doing a heinous crime scene. These professionals are responsible of making sure that all information and evidence are collected from the crime scene that would serve as the answer as to who did the crime.

Typically, private investigators collect material evidences in the crime scene. It is important they do not leave the crime scene without getting enough evidence that would lead to conviction. Because of this, much pressure is on the investigator because there is a need to collect only the important information and not the useless ones. To solve the case, some private investigators come up with unusual ways to find evidences. They have to have, not only intelligence, but also presence of mind and creativity to be able to be instrumental in the solving of the crime.

One of the most unusual would be reconstructing the crime scene and basing the solving of the case on the reconstruction process. This is done by returning to the scene for days or even weeks and tries to reconstruct or live out what complex events lead to the crime. Most of the time, a zero-point is made the point of reference. In murders, it is the murdered body that is used as the zero point.

To be able to be a good private investigator, it is important to have a good eye for detail. What others might think to be ordinary might be something important for the crime to be solved. One unexpected and new way that is used by investigators is brain fingerprinting which has been found to be very accurate. Since DNA and fingerprints are not always found in crime scenes, brain fingerprinting seems to be the answer.

Brain fingerprinting is usually tested on suspects and even on witnesses to know the truth. This is finding out how much one knows about the crime. If a possible witness goes through the test, the choice is narrowed down by either turning the witness into a suspect or confirming that he really is a witness and not the crime perpetrator.

To put it more clearly, brain fingerprinting is a Threat Recognition Test that determines if the subjects recognizes pictures or items that have been found in the crime scene. It is like finding out if that person was present at the crime scene and see how much he knows about the crime.

It is a very difficult profession yet it is full of excitement. Any investigator, whose crime is solved because of his expertise in the way the evidences were found in account of the crime, would feel much fulfillment as he would have helped other people in making their lives less miserable because of the solving of the crime.

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Private investigation has greatly evolved since the days of Sherlock Holmes. If you’ve visualized private eyes to be guys in cloaks with their cameras around their necks while they’re lurking in bedrooms across yours, you’ve a lot to know about today’s brand of spying.

Technology has changed the way private investigators accomplish their work. Now, private eyes can acquire a lot of information on their subjects without even leaving their seats. Thanks to the continuous advancements in technology, private eyes are now able to hack into your computers at home or work, plant hidden cameras in places you frequent, track vehicles by satellite, divert phone calls and even retrieve erased text messages.

Infidelity Boom
One of the most common reasons for people to avail of the services of private investigators is alleged adultery. Couples with reason to suspect their partners of cheating them hire private investigators in hopes of catching bigamous spouses in the act with the help of modern technology and professional spying.

According to Mick Featherstone, a private investigator for Gold Coast firm Phoenix Global and an ex-detective for organized crime, clients desire use of every technology available to produce evidence of a spouse’s act of infidelity.

Infidelity-targeting investigations had already generated big business for firms like Phoenix Global but it still experienced a greater boom in recent years.

Gender Makes No Difference
Based on the number of clients he had entertained over the years, Featherstone believes that men and women are equally inclined to investigate possible acts of infidelity by their spouses.

For clients with reason to suspect their spouses of cheating, Featherstone advises them to try investigating their partners themselves before calling in the big guns. As private investigators can cost you $90 an hour, this is certainly practical and reasonable advice.

The cloak and dagger stuff that people often see in the movies is already a remnant of the past. To know more about your spouse’s activities, Mr. Featherstone suggests by starting with checking credit card and telephone records. Scan the items and see if there is anything to support your suspicions.

Full Service
Of course, paying for a private investigator’s skills can certainly pay off. With a PI working on your case, you can expect a detailed report from transcripts of phone calls and a copy of everything performed on the subject’s computer. And while bugs are illegal to use on targets without letting them know they’re being bugged, guilty subjects rarely pursue legal action.

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