Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Pennsylvania Missing Person Investigations

The U.S. Department of Justice reports there are nearly one hundred thousand active missing person cases in the United States, and more than half of those reported are children. Private investigators are frequently hired to locate missing persons or estranged relatives. Many of the adults who become missing are not reported to police as missing person cases because the individual simply lost touch or chose to disappear for various reasons.

Skip Tracing / Missing Person Investigations

The term skip tracing comes from the expression "to skip town". Meaning to leave in a rush, leaving minimal clues behind for someone to "trace" the "skip" to a new location. Skip tracing is a process used to locate someone who is missing and generally requires gathering, organizing and analyzing large amounts of data on an individual to make a conclusion about where he or she is or might be. Done most commonly to locate people to rekindle relationships or handle legal and financial matters.

Anyone who has spent some time on the Internet has probably seen websites that advertise "Find anyone for $15.00" or similar such claims. These are nearly, without exception, useless. At best they will give you a list of old addresses, and often times will provide you with addresses of anyone with the Subject's name. At worst they will take your money and leave you nothing. Such searches will likely just confuse, rather than clarify your search efforts. It is better to hire a professional to do the investigating. Professional private investigators typically are more efficient because they have much more experience, and they often have good relationships with police or other government agencies such as we do at Brian Blackwell.


At Brian Blackwell Investigations, we have access to professional investigator databases not available to the average person that compile phone information, date of birth information, social security number information, social network information, credit information and other information about people and businesses.

We don't just type in a name in our databases and hand over a report. We have a 96% success rate of locating individuals. This is accomplished by being diligent in our investigation and taking the necessary time to cross reference and double check data for accuracy. Don't waste your time and hard-earned money with online databases. They simply don't do justice to what a private investigator can accomplish.

Is There Anyone We Can't Locate?

Certainly. Individuals who frequently change their name, use aliases, change residences, or use alternate social security numbers complicate things, but it is a small percentage. We have access to data and sources to aid in our investigation that are not available to the average person, and the know-how built on over 20 years experience to locate the person you are looking for. Some individuals are harder to locate than others. Those who take extraordinary steps not to be found can require more time and work to locate than the average person. Provide as much information as you can on the individual you are looking for to help in the search. The more information you provide to us, the quicker the investigation is. Some basic information such as full name, date of birth or (approximate) age, last known address, last known employer, most recent photo, vehicle description (license plate number if you know it), and any other information you have. Even little details can prove to be beneficial.


Brian Blackwell Investigations
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Private Investigator Basics: Background Investigations

Private investigators perform background investigations to verify a person's professional and personal history. A proper background investigation involves conducting interviews and searching for documents that will give you a greater understanding of the person you are looking into.

Can't I just pay for an online background check?

There are automated background checks available on the Internet, but the information is often incomplete or inaccurate, and each record, whether found through the Internet or another source, needs to be verified for validity. A qualified private investigator can provide detailed and accurate information about a person and ensure that the information is accurate.

There is no standard or routine background check. The investigation should be tailored to your areas of concern, reasons for finding out more, and your overall needs.

Whether you're hiring a new employee, looking for a nanny or babysitter, or are considering a prospective business partner, it's a good idea to get a better understanding of who and what you will be involved with. In some situations, not knowing someone's history can have legal, financial, and personal consequences.

A comprehensive background investigation report by an experienced, professional investigator can mean the difference between financial ruin or success. At Brian Blackwell Investigations, we can assist with substantiating facts before you assume legal responsibility and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Our thorough, confidential background investigations consider personal history, criminal and civil cases, professional licensing and history, employment, financial status and assets, associations, social media and online presence, business interests, and political contributions in our investigation.


BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

2225 Sycamore Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Office: (717) 788-0708 or 888-920-3616
https://www.brianblackwell.biz





Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Private Investigator Basics: Surveillance

Surveillance is the art of watching someone, someplace, or some object in order to document and identify any contact, activities and whereabouts. Surveillance is conducted to prevent a crime, to obtain evidence of a crime, to obtain evidence of wrongful action in a civil suit, to document an individual’s location, to document activities in or around a specific location or building, to obtain information to be used in an interrogation, to gather intelligence as a basis for future action, and to obtain information to be used in court.

Types Of Investigations Requiring Surveillance

Missing person, worker’s compensation claim, cheating spouse, vandalism, recurrent theft. 

Types Of Surveillance

The types of surveillance that fit with individual cases vary. Private investigators have to decide which types of surveillance are best suited by understanding the case and the desired outcome of the surveillance. The nature of the case will dictate whether the surveillance will be mechanical or human, whether it will be covert or overt, and whether the surveillance will be stationary or mobile.

Mechanical Surveillance verses Human Surveillance

Mechanical surveillance is when technological devices are used to conduct surveillance. This is beneficial because equipment doesn’t get tired, hungry, or bored. Equipment can be used at multiple locations at the same time and information from equipment at different locations can be accessed simultaneously. For example, mechanical surveillance would be used over human in a case where someone is stealing from a construction site. Private investigators can put up cameras and go back and harvest the recordings.

Human surveillance is when the investigative team is the main source of information. Human surveillance includes tailing targets and observing targets in person. If a private investigator is looking for a missing child, they have to start by investigating the usual haunts of the child and personally visiting those locations.

Overt Surveillance verses Covert Surveillance

Overt surveillance is visible security like security agents at the mall and security cameras in casinos. With overt surveillance, people know the surveillance equipment is there to make sure no one is stealing or cheating.

Covert surveillance is undetected surveillance. Undercover detectives usually conduct this type of surveillance. It may involve trailing a target or using a piece of equipment, like a GPS tracking device, on a company truck or automobile without the company or driver’s knowledge (provided it does not violate the laws within that state.)

Mobile Surveillance verses Stationary Surveillance

Mobile surveillance, obviously, involves following a moving target. Say a target you are tailing gets in his or her car and drives away, you may want to continue the surveillance by using your automobile.

Stationary surveillance is when the investigator stays in one place to observe the target. If a commercial or residential property is being vandalized, a private investigator may be hired to watch the property from a stationary post, like a parked car, to gain evidence of the crime and who the perpetrator is.

Prepare For Surveillance

Know the client’s needs. What is it that the client is trying to accomplish through surveillance? The answer to this question determines what types of surveillance will be needed, the scope of the project and the types of equipment that will be used. Private investigators have to educate the potential client and manage their expectations as investigations are often more complicated and costly than the client anticipates.

Know The Subject

Before performing surveillance, investigators should always complete a background check with comprehensive records research on the target and acquire as much information as possible about them - name, address, phone number, complete physical description, photograph, and relatives in the immediate vicinity. Private investigators will also want to know pertinent background information such as routines, habits, hobbies, schedules and associates.

Know The Area

Private investigators should always have a map of the area where the surveillance will be taking place. If possible, they should also have a photograph of the building they are watching or the location where surveillance will begin. If surveillance is taking place at night or in the early morning, it’s a good idea to visit the site during various periods of the day and night.

Know Your Equipment

The kind of equipment a private investigator uses is contingent upon the nature of the surveillance itself. Private investigators need to get familiar with their equipment ahead of time and practice with it. If surveillance involves a camera or a video camera, prepared investigators will have two of them with backup batteries. Investigators seldom get a second opportunity to capture an activity.

Every private investigator should have a flashlight for working at night, binoculars or a telescope, a tape recorder, two-way radios for team surveillance, a tripod for security equipment, full tank of gas in the car, appropriate attire, snacks and water.

Know Yourself

Private investigators must do what is necessary to prepare their minds for work, like exercise, get plenty of sleep and have a practiced plan. All private investigators should also to be prepared for a situation where they are approached by a stranger or by the police while conducting surveillance. Always have a convincing story ready to tell.

What Every Investigator Should Know About Surveillance

Surveillance is incredibly demanding and challenging. Private investigators who are successful at surveillance have to possess certain qualities. Someone with an outgoing personality, exceptional communication skills, the ability to take action, a good memory, an ability to blend into their surroundings and a strong attention to detail would be a good fit for surveillance. This person should also be honest, patient, observant, resourceful, flexible and focused. Not every person is able to sit for hours and focus on a particular area. Investigators often sit in an automobile for up to ten hours on the coldest day of winter or the hottest day of summer.

Ethics And Laws Relevant To Surveillance

All private investigators should know the laws that may affect their work in their respective states or face a possible prison sentence. Trespassing and audio recording laws are especially important to know. Laws regarding audio recording vary state to state and some states prohibit covert audio recording.

Conclusion

Surveillance is not always necessary in an investigation. Surveillance adds to an investigation when a visual confirmation of the actions or the whereabouts of the subject is necessary to concluding the investigation. If an investigator needs to catch a thief in the act, find and confirm the whereabouts of a missing person, or prove a worker’s compensation claim is false, surveillance is necessary.


** An interesting and eye-opening article on the subject of audio recording: Broken Record Laws  



Brian Blackwell Investigations
2225 Sycamore Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
https://www.brianblackwell.biz




Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.