Blog – Private Investigation

My loved one is missing. What should I do?

November 3, 2015 by Anthony Acosta

Why you should hire a Private Investigator if a loved one is missing

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 2,300 Americans are reported missing daily. Eight hundred thousand children go missing each year. The increased availability and unsupervised usage of the Internet has made the predator’s job even easier.

Seventy-six percent of missing victims who have been killed, were murdered within the first three to five hours of their abduction. This is why it is important to immediately notify your local law enforcement agency. This is especially true in cases were the abductor is known and considered violent and or mentally unstable.

A major benefit of hiring a private investigator in a missing person cases is that they have the experience and knowledge to conduct an investigation. Unfortunately, many times local law enforcement agencies consider missing persons a low priority. A missing persons case can be time-consuming. Local law enforcement agencies often do not have enough manpower to assign an investigator to work solely on your case. Even more often, they will not consider certain persons missing until after twenty-four hours have passed.

A missing persons case is physically and mentally exhausting for the family. There are many things that need to be done. A private investigator can assist with many of the steps that should be taken. The private investigator can also represent the family as a liaison with the police, increasing the odds of bringing your loved one safely back home to you.

When you hire a private investigator you are hiring an experienced professional who is trained in missing person investigations, evidence collection, intelligence gathering, interview techniquess, and hostage negotiations.

Private investigators understand the seriousness of a missing persons case and they understand what you are experiencing. This is why when you hire a private investigator you should consider that you are hiring your own personal investigator who will dedicate themselves to only working your case and shortening the time you and your loved one are apart.

Below is a list of things that should be done within the first 48 hours of a person missing,

First 24 Hours

· Immediately contact your local law enforcement agency. Ensure that the person is entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Persons File (there is no waiting period for entry into NCIC).

· Request that law enforcement issue a Be On The Look Out (BOLO) bulletin. Ask them to consider involving the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

· Ask your law enforcement agency about the AMBER Alert Plan (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response). Through AMBER Alert, law enforcement agencies and broadcasters activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases.

· Limit access to your home until law enforcement arrives and has collected possible evidence. Do not touch or remove anything. Remember that clothing, sheets, personal items, computers, and even trash may hold clues.

· Ask for the name and telephone number of the law enforcement investigator assigned to your case. Keep this information in a safe and convenient place near the telephone and program it into your cell phone.

· Give law enforcement investigators all the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance, including what efforts have already been made to search for the missing person.

· Write a detailed description of the clothing worn and the personal items he or she had at the time of the disappearance. Include in your description any personal identification marks, such as birthmarks, scars, tattoos, or mannerisms that may help. If possible, find a picture that shows these identification marks and give it to law enforcement.

· Make a list of friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who might have information or clues. Include telephone numbers and addresses, if possible. Tell your law enforcement investigator about anyone who moved in or out of the neighborhood within the past year, anyone whose interest in or involvement with the family changed in recent months, and anyone who appeared to be overly interested in your child. List Internet interests; favorite sites and games; and Internet friends from MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites.

· Find recent photographs in both black and white and color. Scan electronically and make copies of these pictures for your law enforcement agency, the media, and your state missing children’s clearinghouse, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and other nonprofit organizations.

· Ask your law enforcement agency to organize a search. Ask them about using tracking or trailing dogs (preferably bloodhounds) in the search effort.

· Ask your law enforcement agency for help in contacting the media.

· Designate one person to answer your telephone. Keep a notebook or pad of paper by the telephone so this person can jot down names, telephone numbers, dates and times of calls, and other information relating to each call.

· Keep a notebook or pad of paper with you at all times to write down your thoughts or questions and record important information, such as names, dates, or telephone numbers.

· Take good care of yourself and your family because your child needs you to be strong. As hard as it may be, force yourself to get rest, eat nourishing food, and talk to someone about your tumultuous feelings.

Within the next 24 hours you should do the following,

· Talk with your law enforcement investigator about the steps they are taking. If your law enforcement investigator does not have a copy of Missing and Abducted Children: A Law Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management, suggest that he or she call NCMEC at 800–843-5678 to get one. Your our law enforcement investigator can also contact the Crimes Against Children Coordinator in the local FBI Field Office to get a copy of the FBI’s Child Abduction Response Plan.

· Review your list of friends, acquaintances, extended family members, yard workers, delivery persons, and anyone who may have seen the missing person during or following the abduction.

· Look at personal calendars, community events calendars, and newspapers to see if there are any clues as to who was in the vicinity and might be the abductor or a possible witness. Give this information to law enforcement. Save a copy of the local newspaper.

· Expect that you will be asked to take a polygraph test, which is standard procedure. Volunteer to take a polygraph right away.

· Work with your NCMEC case manager to identify locations where posters could be distributed. When the case is media ready, NCMEC sends posters to the geographic area the missing person is believed to be located.

· Work with your law enforcement agency to schedule press releases and media events. If necessary, ask someone close to you to serve as your media spokesperson.

· Report all extortion attempts to law enforcement and do not attempt to pay ransom requests without first communicating with the assigned police investigator.

· Have a second telephone line installed with call forwarding. Get caller ID and call waiting. Ask law enforcement to install a phone in your home that can be used to record calls. Get a cell phone or pager so you can be reached when you are away from home.

· Take care of yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask others to take care of your physical and emotional needs and those of your family. Contact your place of employment to see if coworkers are willing to help.

· Make a list of things that volunteers can do for you and your family.

· Contact the family doctor and dentist and ask for copies of medical records and X rays. Give them to law enforcement.

· Talk to your law enforcement agency about creating a website to capture information on leads. Designate a screened and trusted volunteer to manage the Website.

Choosing A Security Company

October 10, 2015 by Anthony Acosta

As you may have already learned there are many Security Companies for you to choose from, so how does one decide which company to choose? For starters you should make sure that the company is properly licensed.

In New York State all legitimate Security Companies (and security employees) must be licensed by the New York State Department of State (NY-DOS), and must be bonded and insured. This process insures a basic standard of competence and an inferred professional standard. The New York State Department of State maintains a public accessible database (http://appext20.dos.ny.gov/lcns_public/chk_load) in which consumers can use to verify if a Security Company or Security Guard is properly licensed and in compliance with licensing standards.

You should never assume that your security situation is common (no two situations are the same), like wise you should be cautious of any Security Company that uses words like, “I have handled numerous situations like this before” or one that is willing to be hired without first meeting with you and conducting at minimum a basic security assessment.

The hiring of a Security Company is sensitive and may involve you sharing personal information with them therefore you should make sure that you shop around and ask for a free initial consultation, amongst other things you should be confident that they understand your security needs and that they are knowledgeable and experienced enough to provide the service that you need. Professionalism and confidentiality are a must.

Once you have found a Security Company that you are comfortable with and that you feel possess all the necessary qualifications you should make sure that you discuss with them their fees and the services included. In New York State Security Companies are required to provide their clients with an itemized contract stipulating basic fees and potential additional cost. Security Company rates will vary greatly, the rates should depend on the pre agreed upon requested service(s), number of personnel, potential incurred expenses, and time spent providing services.

Hiring a reputable Security Company may seem like a difficult task but if you follow these simple steps and if you do you a little research the process will be simple and easy.

Dealing With A Stalker

October 10, 2015 by Anthony Acosta

Stalking

While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time.

Some things stalkers do:

Follow you and show up wherever you are.
Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, or e-mails.
Damage your home, car, or other property.
Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
Use technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to
track where you go.
Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work.
Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets.
Find out about you by using public records or online search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family,
neighbors, or co-workers.
Posting information or spreading rumors about you on the Internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
Other actions that control, track, or frighten you.

Stalking Victimization

5 million people are stalked in one year in the United States.
Over 85% of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.
61% of female victims and 44% of male victims of stalking are stalked by a
current or former intimate partner.
25% of female victims and 32% of male victims of stalking are stalked by an acquaintance.
About 1 in 5 of stalking victims are stalked by a stranger.
Persons aged 18-24 years experience the highest rate of stalking.
11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more.
46% of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week.

If you are being stalked, you may:

Feel fear of what the stalker will do.
Feel vulnerable, unsafe, and not know who to trust.
Feel anxious, irritable, impatient, or on edge.
Feel depressed, hopeless, overwhelmed, tearful, or angry.
Feel stressed, including having trouble concentrating, sleeping, or

remembering things. Have eating problems, such as appetite loss, forgetting to eat, or overeating. Have flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, feelings, or memories. Feel confused, frustrated, or isolated because other people don’t understand.

Impact of Stalking on Victims

46% of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next.
(2009).
29% of stalking victims fear the stalking will never stop.
1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their victimization and more than half lose 5 days of work or more. 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization.
The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe
depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population,
especially if the stalking involves being followed or having one’s property

Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide

76% of intimate partner femicide victims have been stalked by their intimate partner.
67% had been physically abused by their intimate partner.
89% of femicide victims who had been physically assaulted had also been
stalked in the 12 months before their murder.
79% of abused femicide victims reported being stalked during the same period that they were abused.
54% of femicide victims reported stalking to police before they were killed by their stalkers.

Stalkers

A stalker can be someone you know well or not at all. Most have dated or been involved with the people they stalk. Most stalking cases involve men stalking women, but men do stalk men, women do stalk women, and women do stalk men.

2/3 of stalkers pursue their victims at least once per week, many daily, using more than one method.
78% of stalkers use more than one means of approach.
Weapons are used to harm or threaten victims in 1 out of 5 cases.
Almost 1/3 of stalkers have stalked before.
Intimate partner stalkers frequently approach their targets, and their behaviors escalate quickly.

Stalking Laws

Stalking is a crime under the laws of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and the Federal government.

Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony upon first offense.
More than 1/2 of states classify stalking as a felony upon second offense or subsequent offense or when the crime involves aggravating factors.
Aggravating factors may include: possession of a deadly weapon, violation of a court order or condition of probation/parole, victim under 16 years, or same victim as prior occasions.

Cheating Spouses

October 10, 2015 by Anthony Acosta

How can a private investigator help in infidelity situations?

If you believe that your spouse is being unfaithful, you may want to consider hiring a private investigator (PI). Private investigators are licensed and trained professionals who understand the state and local laws as they pertain to evidence collection and its use. A PI will be able to assist you in confirming or disproving your suspicions. They do this by providing you with services which usually include observations, surveillance, photos/videos, computer checks, and much more.

One of the first signs that your spouse is cheating is often your initial suspicion. If you feel your spouse is cheating go with your gut feeling. Most infidelity studies show that approximately 57% of marriages end because infidelity. Sixty-two percent of men have cheated on their partner, with women trailing closely behind at 57%.

The primary cause of infidelity in men is sex and for women it’s a desire for emotional connection. Keep in mind that an unhappy marriage is not necessarily an indicator that a man or woman will cheat. According to a Rutgers University study, 56% of men who have cheated stated that they were happy in their relationship while 48% of woman stated that they were happy in their relationship.

One of the most common indicators that your spouse may be cheating is a sudden change in their routines and/or unusual behaviors. If all of a sudden your spouse is becoming more secretive (i.e. turning their cell phone off, lowering the notification signal, avoiding calls, adding passwords to computers, mobile devices, extended working hours, or new assignments, change in behavior towards you) there may be cause for concern.

Another common indicator is a sudden concern for their appearance (i.e. wearing of cologne/perfume, sexier than usual clothing, make up, and changes in showering patterns.).

One or two of the above common indicators does not necessarily mean your spouse is cheating on you. But if your spouse is demonstrating two or three of the above indicators, you should attempt to confirm your suspicion by speaking with your spouse and observing their body language for key indicators of lying, (unable to maintain eye contact, quick changing of head position, change in breathing, repeating of words or phrases, covering of the mouth, etc.). If you further suspect that your spouse maybe cheating, then you should check financial documents (i.e. bills, bank/credit card statements), and internet/mobile device activity.

If you feel that your spouse may be cheating on you contact us at Illuminatus Security & Investigations and schedule a free consultation to see how we can help you.