| The interesting thing about posing this question is | | | | even in the one type of investigation in which |
| that most people think they are qualified to answer | | | | DIY’ers could be successful, the personal search, |
| it, although they aren’t. The fact is, most people | | | | there are twists, turns, shortcuts and time-wasters all |
| do not know what detectives, whether on the police | | | | along the way. There are precious few things other |
| force or “for hire,” really do in an | | | | than experience that can make a beginner a veteran. |
| investigation, and what sorts of skills are required. It | | | | Danger and other high costs |
| is certainly nothing like you see on TV. | | | | There is also a tremendous amount of danger that |
| Of course, you would not do much murder | | | | PI’s can get themselves into. Some of them will |
| investigating, even if one happened in your family. | | | | face life and death circumstances. These days, |
| You would probably leave the burglary capers to the | | | | however, many private investigators are not acting |
| police, too. Private investigators can certainly look into | | | | under that title alone, and hold badges in law |
| those matters for you, but the bulk of a private | | | | enforcement. This allows them to protect |
| eye’s work involves finding people and identifying | | | | themselves to the fullest extent. However, among |
| their whereabouts, their actions – and, of course, | | | | the 50 states there are various laws regulating, or |
| their assets. This is why the great majority of private | | | | outright prohibiting, sworn peace officers from |
| eyes make the great majority of their money on | | | | working as private detectives, security staff or |
| divorces and civil matters, not criminal investigations. | | | | bodyguards. |
| Private eye or DIY? | | | | With danger being an equal opportunity employer, |
| Private investigations can be difficult for even the | | | | and something that any PI might face in a thousand |
| most experienced professional. Private investigators | | | | different ways, the “DIY detective gig” |
| have been helping people “get the skinny,” | | | | might become something of a magnet for those who |
| or the truth, in all types of situations. Whether | | | | want to become vigilantes for justice. Fortunately, |
| it’s a company investigating a string of | | | | most states have licensing procedures in place that |
| warehouse thefts, a spouse that suspects her | | | | will limit the number of “John Waynes” that |
| significant other of cheating or a case of a | | | | are allowed to flash badges and carry concealed |
| disappearing investment advisor (these are on the | | | | weapons while in the employ of a private citizen. |
| rise), private investigations can be quite challenging | | | | Back to basics |
| and time-consuming. There are certain tricks of the | | | | Not only can private investigation be dangerous and |
| trade that you must learn, and there is no substitute | | | | daunting, it is also very time consuming. Private |
| for on-the-job training. | | | | investigators dedicate their every waking hour to the |
| There will always be a huge difference between a | | | | completion of whatever case they happen to be on. |
| real “PI” and a do-it-yourselfer (DIY’er). | | | | PI work is difficult for the professional and amateur |
| But if you reduce the tasks to their simplest | | | | alike, but deciding how much to “bite off” |
| components, there are a number of basic matters | | | | should be simple for the DIY’er. The answer |
| that you could investigate, or begin investigating, | | | | would range from “none” to “not |
| without hiring a professional right away. With the | | | | much,” at least until you develop the basic online |
| Internet, you can check many databases, including | | | | search skills, plus learn how to get information over |
| those of government agencies and various industries, | | | | the phone, by mail, via e-mail or in person from the |
| to help you in the one undertaking in which you just | | | | myriad local, county, state and federal bureaucrats |
| might make some progress on your own, namely, | | | | that man the barricades in the government offices |
| locating people who don’t want to be found. | | | | that are chock full of answers. |
| Tools and tricks | | | | It’s very important to consider all of the costs, |
| Private investigation has changed tremendously over | | | | in terms of money, time and danger, which |
| the past few decades. As opposed the “old | | | | conducting an investigation entails. Invest some |
| days” of the “gumshoe” where a PI | | | | research time into the fine points of, say, “skip |
| would follow a wayward wife around town with a | | | | tracing” and you will discover that it’s not as |
| camera and try to catch them in an adulterous act, | | | | easy as it might have seemed on television. Then, |
| PI’s now are highly trained, skilled professionals. | | | | when confronted with a problem that needs some |
| Whether they are former police officers or crime lab | | | | detective work – nothing criminal, of course – |
| technicians, or like many others took law and/or | | | | you should be able to see a clear line between what |
| accounting courses (like FBI agents), they did what | | | | you can handle yourself and what you need help to |
| was necessary to get an “education for | | | | do. It should not bother you in the least that the |
| investigation.” | | | | latter group will be much larger than the former, as it |
| Trying to conduct an investigation without the | | | | is that way with most everything. After all, you can |
| required skills will yield poor results. This is where | | | | only be an expert at so much, so get help when you |
| many of the DIY’ers make their first, and most | | | | need it. The trick is knowing when to do that, and |
| catastrophic, error. They think that a few web | | | | it’s always better to err on the side of caution |
| searches and a $19.95 online background check is | | | | and ask for help than to charge ahead and lose your |
| “investigating.” This, of course, is silly. So, | | | | head! |