| This article is a continuation of our multi part | | | | may be thinking about doing business with for a |
| series about private investigators, picking up | | | | possible merger. These investigations are intended |
| where we left off. | | | | to uncover any shady dealings that the |
| Many private investigators decide to specialize in | | | | prospective company may have been involved |
| one type of investigation. The reason for this is | | | | with. Many of these investigators are also certified |
| because some cases involve so much knowledge | | | | public accountants as this skill is needed to be able |
| in a required area that trying to concentrate on | | | | to perform this job adequately. |
| more than just that area of expertise becomes | | | | Detectives who work for retail stores, hotels and |
| very difficult. Just like many doctors concentrate | | | | other public places where theft is always possible, |
| on one type of medicine, such as ear, nose and | | | | are mostly responsible for controlling losses, |
| throat, or gynaecology, many detectives also | | | | stopping theft and protecting assets. These store |
| specialize. | | | | detectives are also known as loss prevention |
| Legal investigators specialize in cases that usually | | | | agents. They perform their job by apprehending |
| end up going to trial such as murder investigations. | | | | anyone who is attempting to steal merchandise or |
| They'll often assist in the preparation of legal | | | | destroy store property. They stop theft by |
| defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal | | | | shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery |
| documents, interviewing police and possible | | | | personnel and even store employees. These |
| witnesses, and also assist in gathering and | | | | detectives also perform periodic searches of |
| reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also | | | | stock areas, dressing rooms and rest rooms and |
| sometimes collect information concerning the | | | | will sometimes even assist in opening and closing |
| parties involved in the litigation and may even | | | | the store itself. Part of their job requires them to |
| testify in court. | | | | fill out loss prevention and security forms and |
| Corporate investigators perform the function of | | | | reports for the store owner and managers and |
| conducting internal and external investigations for | | | | also to testify in court against any persons that |
| large corporations. In the case of an internal | | | | they themselves have apprehended in the act of |
| investigation they may investigate drug use by an | | | | a crime. In the case of hotel detectives they |
| employee or even corporate theft by an | | | | protect the hotel guests and their belongings |
| employee or group of employees. Much of the | | | | against theft and also police the hotel bars and |
| Enron scandal evidence was acquired by private | | | | restaurants to prevent undesirables from causing |
| investigators. When conducting an external | | | | trouble. Because of some of these duties, many |
| investigation for a corporation a detective may be | | | | of these investigators may have at one time |
| involved in uncovering criminal schemes to try to | | | | been trained law enforcement officers, as the job |
| steal the company's private information on a new | | | | can often get very ugly. |
| product. | | | | In our next article in this series we'll continue with |
| Financial investigators are usually hired to | | | | the working conditions of private investigators. |
| investigate another company that the corporation | | | | |