PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: FINDING A MISSING PERSON

November 11, 2016/in Uncategorized/by a6eeeef4_admin

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: FINDING A MISSING PERSON

When a person goes missing, it can be devastating for families and friends. However, the sooner you get started on looking for that missing person, the better your chances are of finding him or her. However, in order to find the missing person faster, you’re going to need some help from a professional. One of your best hopes is to hire a private investigator. A private investigation can significantly increase your chances of finding the missing person.

According to the FBI, in 2013, 627,911 missing persons records were entered into the National Crime Information Center, and as of the end of December 2013, the National Crime Information Center contained 84,136 active missing person records.

Private Investigation: Who Can Be Found Using a Missing Person Investigation?

A missing person investigation can be used to find minors who have been kidnapped, runaways, long lost friends and family, debtors that owe you money, and fugitives. Basically, if you need to locate someone who is difficult to find, a professional private investigator will have the tools and skills necessary to help locate the person you are looking for.

How Does a Private Investigator Find a Missing Person?

There are many techniques used by a PI to help locate the missing person. Some of these techniques include:

Information Given by the Client

The best place to start is with the information you as the client are aware of. It is important that you give the PI all the information you know, no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Their date of birth, last known address, and what that person was last seen wearing or where he or she was going can all be useful information.

However, if the person has been missing for decades, the case is harder to solve.

Surveillance

If a person is likely to be in a particular place, or more than one place, surveillance is one technique used in a private investigation to locate an individual, or even follow a suspect in a missing person case. Types of surveillance methods used include:

Human Surveillance. This is when the private investigator is the main source of information. That is, the PI is tailing any suspects or physically observing locations themselves.

Mechanical Surveillance. This involves using technological/ electronic devices to conduct surveillance. The benefit of mechanical surveillance in a missing persons investigation is that unlike a human being, equipment doesn’t get tired, bored, or hungry. There is also the advantage of using it in more than one location at a time, 24/7.

Using Their Networks

Since many private investigators have experience in law enforcement or criminal justice, they tend to have many contacts in related fields. These contacts can come in handy when trying to find a missing person. Some of these contacts may include other private investigators, police officers, and paid informants.

Online Databases

Online searches can be done to try and locate a missing person. This can be a simple Google search, searches on social media platforms, and online government records. Some online searches can be very simple, while some may take some patience. Either way, this is a very practical method of searching for someone who is missing.

Traffic Tickets

This is particularly useful when searching for a suspect in a missing person case, or when searching for a missing person who is likely to be driving. If a traffic ticket is fairly recent, the information on the ticket such as name, address, make and model of the car, date of birth, and where the ticket was issued, will be extremely useful in narrowing down the search and increasing the chances of the case being solved.

Missing Person Investigation Miami

If you are searching for a missing person and require the help of a professional, licensed private investigator, Maya and Maya can help. We offer a variety of private investigator services, including missing person investigations. Our time-proven investigative techniques often allow us to locate someone in a short amount of time, even when others have been searching in vain for years. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Hire a Properly Licensed Private Investigator

February 18, 2016/in Uncategorized/by a6eeeef4_admin

I am writing this article because I am concerned at the recent trends I am seeing on the internet by companies advertising in Florida, California, and New York who are not licensed in those states or some are not licensed at all for that matter. The important facet to understand is that when you are seeking to hire a private investigator is the very fact that they are licensed, bonded, and insured. That the agency or individual you are seeking to hire has the proper experience and you have vetted him properly. Does he or she have a degree?, Prior Law Enforcement? Experience?, Ex-Military, Etc. However, those things are all important but the most important element is that you are dealing with an agency or person you who is licensed and is authorized to perform the services they are advertising to do in the state you are requesting them being done in. In Florida it is a third degree felony to perform private investigative services without a license. Do you know that in Florida Sales Tax is required to be collected by the agency performing private investigative services in Florida and if there not they are breaking the law. I recommend that “You” as the consumer do your homework and hire a licensed entity or person only! I would be careful in dealing with “middle men” or a dispatch services who claim they have a wide variety of investigators in there network and in turn are not licensed in the state to advertise or perform private investigative services. The trend recently is these so called dispatch companies on the net who not licensed as “private investigative agencies” are solicited by consumers and they sign up the investigative service and in turn hire a local private investigator at a far cheaper rate than what you are paying them. What happens in most cases they are hiring a local private investigator who is licensed but may be slow on business or may not have the business savvy to get your business on his own. The local investigator may have not been your choice to hire had you had enough time to evaluate his credentials on your own. I recommend you stay as far away from unlicensed entities as you can as if it all goes south you have no regulatory recourse as you would with a licensing agency. I recommend you sign a contract and in that contract the person engaging you is licensed and all the particulars such as fee, objectives, and timeframe, reports, and videos turnover are in the contract. Lastly, you may be emotionally distressed and may not be thinking normally I adhere to wait take a deep breath and do your home work because by acting impulsively you may lose the opportunity to meet your objectives and lose hundreds if thousands or dollars.

Thumbtack Posting

April 10, 2015/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by a6eeeef4_admin

http://www.thumbtack.com/fl/miami/private-investigators/premier-private-investigator

Questions to ask when hiring a private investigator

April 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by a6eeeef4_admin

There are many different reasons you could want to hire a private investigator. Anything from investigating your spouse in preparation for a divorce to doing background checks on employees.

Private investigators are professionals and experts in their field. Just like you would want to see credentials of a doctor or mechanic, it is not unreasonable to ask for information when hiring a private investigator.

Finding a private investigator:

The best way to find a PI is through referrals. Friends, family, business associates, your attorney and even insurance adjusters are good ways to find a good private investigator. Word of mouth gives you different information than you can find in an advertisement.
Check with your state’s private investigation association. Many of them have websites which post members’ information.
If your state does not have a private investigation association, or you cannot find information about it, check with national organizations and see if they can refer an agency in your area. Although some areas overlap, you should try to find a PI that is familiar with the local area. Ask for a reference for a Miami private investigator as opposed to a South Florida PI.
If your needs fall in the surveillance or background check area, talk with an insurance company or a homeowner’s association. With very few questions you should be able to find out what agencies they use.
Paid ads in the yellow pages or business references can be used, but the information you find through these ads is superficial, at best. Look for licensing and insurance information. They are very important.

Meeting with the investigator:

Prior to meeting the PI, determine your budget. If you have a definite amount in mind, you can keep costs down by not adding on services you don’t need.
When you speak to the investigator, ask if they have done work similar to what you are wanting them to do. Although the details will not be available, the outcome of the work is. Make sure they are competent in that area.
Ask to see examples of reports that they have produced in similar cases.
Good communication is critical between you and the investigator. While meeting with them, gauge your comfort level. Don’t hire an agency that makes you uncomfortable and be open to new ideas from the private investigators, they are the experts.
Expect to pay a retainer before the PI begins work. If the investigator doesn’t ask for one, or their rate is low, that might be a sign of desperation, not competence.

Just like hiring any expert, private investigators will understand the process you are going through and help you along it by answering your questions and trying to make you feel comfortable with them and their methods. When speaking with the PI, make sure you see their license and the licenses of anyone who will be working on your case. Unlicensed investigators may not be aware of their responsibilities and how to do their work while staying within the law. Any illegalities that are performed at your behest are your responsibility.

If you need private investigation services in South Florida or the Miami area, call the detective agency of Maya & Maya, Inc. at (305)232-0056.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: FINDING A MISSING PERSON

Hire a Properly Licensed Private Investigator

Thumbtack Posting

Questions to ask when hiring a private investigator

Get In Touch With Us

(305) 232-0056

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