Advice on becoming a private investigator

The top 10 things private investigators WON’T do

Private Investigation, Private Investigators

Our PI firm receives thousands of calls a year. Every day, we have to explain to at least one caller that some of the things they want us to do for them are in fact illegal – and punishable by prison and fines. I decided to compile a list of these requests, and group them into categories. This allowed me to come up with a top 10 list of services we either won’t perform – or will only perform only under very tight restrictions, under the direction in writing from an attorney and/or they meet the severe limitations of the civil and criminal codes of conduct.

Thomas G. Martin interviewed on ABC 6 News: kaal-tv

The role social media plays in law enforcement

Private Investigation

My office is often contacted by radio and television shows looking for a bit of insight from a private investigator.

This week I received a request from Betsy Singer of KAAL-TV ABC6 News in Rochester, MN. I couldn’t resist calling her back.

Singer had read a post of mine about how a Facebook update led to the capture of a fugitive and she wanted to talk about the role social media plays in law enforcement. She was doing a feature on a local program in Freeborn County called Warrant Wednesdays, in which warrants are posted on Facebook in hopes of getting information on the whereabouts of the fugitives.

Unannounced visits to senior care facilities

Investigation of senior facilities by private investigators

Family Problems, Private Investigators, Seniors, Surveillance

I guarantee you that a visit from a licensed PI for your mom, dad or grandparent will be the talk of the facility that day – for both the staff and the residents. When I walk in and say, “Hi, I’m Tom Martin and I’m a private investigator. I’m here to check on Mary Lou Smith,” with my license in hand, the reaction is priceless – and very telling. Some staff immediately get flustered and literally hold up their hands in front of me, as if to try to bar me. “Whoa, whoa whoa….”