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• Private Investigator
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• Matrimonial Investigations
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In 1850, agents from the newly formed Pinkerton Detective Agency had to use very simple tools to solve cases. Pen, paper, horse, carriage, a revolver, and the budding telegraph system were the main tools of the trade. Detectives had to use their wits, and did not have much help. Today, private detectives have a veritable plethora of gadgets and gizmos to choose from for everything from eavesdropping on conversations to gathering financial data.

Conversations are a goldmine for gathering intelligence. Whether the person being investigated is discussing an extramarital affair, theft, or selling secrets, a recorded conversation is one of the most damning pieces of evidence in a courtroom. To gain this situation, private investigators have several tools available. Passive listening devices or “bugs” can be placed in a room prior to a conversation. The listener can pick up whatever is discussed in the room. Phone taps are another tool for listening to conversations. A device is placed on the telephone line, which allows the investigator to hear every conversation held on the line. A parabolic antenna listening device lets the private detective listen in on the conversation of his choice from a great distance, recording the information that he deems relevant.

Visual surveillance is another powerful tool in the private detective’s arsenal. Video cameras are present in every business in America, on many street corners, and even in and outside of many homes. An enterprising detective could easily obtain video information from any location to support his case. Mini cameras can be hidden in a room and send a live video feed to the detective, allowing him to record an illicit meeting in real-time to use as evidence in his case. Optical technology has advanced to a point where a private detective can use a magnified camera lens to take perfect pictures from hundreds of yards away.

As computers become more and more important in our everyday lives, the tools that private detectives use to gather data are becoming more advanced. Some detectives are adept in eavesdropping on electronic conversations such as emails and instant messages. Sometimes the information can be pulled from a remote computer; sometimes the detective has to gain access to the computer to physically gain access to the data. Detectives can also use computers to track the finances of a person, determining where his money is located, where it came from, and what he is spending it on. This type of information is especially important in extramarital affair and stolen secret cases. Computers carry all manner of personal information and will only become more valuable as intelligence gathering sources for private detectives in the future.

Of course, even though all of this high technology is available, laws still exist for gathering data. If a private detective has been hired to gather information for a court case, breaking into a computer or tapping a phone line are methods that cannot be used, as the information gained will be inadmissible in court. The technology is available to find information, but the rules still apply to determining which information can be used.