Private Detective Agency
Private Investigator Cases and Case Studies | Sentry Private Investigators Ltd
Have a read through some of the most memorable cases we have taken on over the years.
What Does A Private Investigator Agency Do to Gather Evidence?
What does a private investigator agency do on a day to day basis? There are many aspects to being a private investigator agency, and all private investigators specialise in their own desired fields. Sentry Private Investigators specialise in covert surveillance operations, open source investigations (background checks and people tracing) plus many other areas of investigation. Our PI team working together handles a wide variety of investigator cases, including social media investigations, missing person searches, and complex surveillance operations. Paid PI people are often hired for surveillance and evidence gathering, supporting both personal and corporate clients. We have put together a list of case study examples that we as a professional private investigator agency have conducted over the years for our visitors to get an idea of what we actually do day in, day out.
March 2023
Case Study - Matrimonial Cheating Partner Surveillance
TASK - To evidence actions of a cheating husband whilst away on a business trip in the city. Report all findings back to the client as the operation progresses.
METHOD - Conduct period of mobile surveillance with a team of X2 surveillance operatives in order to increase evidence gathering opportunities and reduce exposure levels.
OUTCOME - The subject was observed attending a works dinner at a private members club before returning back to his hotel. The subject was dropped off by his taxi approximately 400 metres before his hotel so he could withdraw a large amount of cash from an ATM. Once the subject was back at his hotel, he was known to call the client to which he told her he was going to bed for the evening. No more than one minute after the phone call ended, the subject was out of the hotel and into another taxi which took him to a brothel a short distance away. On arrival the subject darted out of the taxi and into the building where he remained for the entirety of the night. To our surprise, the subjects actions were on display in the purple lit room (pictured) to which we were able to see and evidence most things going on. The subject was in the presence of what we initially thought was X2 females, one of which was on her knees, and the other stood behind him assisting in putting a bra on him. Once the bra was on, the female who assisted then moved over to the yellow lit room to smoke Cannabis out of the window. Once she was finished she stepped away from the window we were able to confirm she was not a female…. The client, an attractive older woman, was updated throughout the operation and she remained calm and composed which was good to see from our point of view. During the surveillance, a guy watching from a nearby vehicle provided additional support to the team. At one point, the subject was observed through a sliding glass door, which allowed for discreet monitoring.
This case also involved a hot mess of intertwined issues, as the subject was juggling multiple relationships and financial secrets. We have seen the same story play out in other infidelity investigations, where people hide affairs using similar tactics. In a previous case, a pool boy was caught during surveillance of a cheating spouse, highlighting the variety of scenarios we encounter. In another instance, two investigators found themselves working at the same hospital on related cases, uncovering interconnected infidelity among staff. We also handled a case involving a younger wife suspected of infidelity by her older husband, which required careful observation and evidence gathering. In one particularly bizarre surveillance, we documented someone sticking random items in unusual places, which added an unexpected twist to the operation. Another memorable case involved a Japanese woman whose background played a key role in the investigation. And, in a humorous aside, we once discovered a massive concrete tortoise as unexpected evidence during surveillance.
Sometimes, cases are solved by dumb luck, such as when a subject inadvertently revealed incriminating information. We also recall a case where a subject claimed to be completely blind but was observed driving, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of their claim. In another case, a subject was found performing acts of kindness for terminally ill children, which added a touching element to the investigation. Finally, we once uncovered the deception of a young rich woman's fiancé, who was living off her wealth while hiding his unemployment and lack of education. These diverse investigator cases demonstrate the breadth of scenarios handled by our agency.
Weird Dad Case Study
In one unusual case, a client hired us to investigate her father, described as a weird dad, who exhibited eccentric behaviours that concerned the family. The weird dad paid for an investigation into his own mysterious late-night outings, which turned out to involve elaborate scavenger hunts and collecting odd memorabilia. This case highlighted the importance of investigating a family member when their wellbeing or behaviour raises concerns.
January 2021
Case Study - People Tracing Investigation
TASK - To locate and provide address/contact details of a clients two sons where contact had been broken three years prior following a family dispute. To seek post consent from the two sons to allow distribution of address/contact details to the client.
METHOD - Conduct trace search enquiries via online open-source registers to obtain current addresses and further contact details for both sons. Contact both sons directly and seek consent to distribute information to their father.
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OUTCOME - Both sons current addresses and other contact information was sourced with data as recent as 3 weeks old. Following a discussion and an agreement between both sons, they gave consent for our private investigator agency to distribute contact details to the client. The client reconnected with both sons. Private investigators are often called upon to investigate or monitor a family member when there are concerns about their wellbeing or behavior. Missing person investigations are also a crucial part of our work, helping to reunite families and provide closure in difficult situations. As previously mentioned, these cases can be emotionally charged and require sensitivity.
December 2020
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Case Study - Industrial Espionage Investigation
TASK - To conduct a private investigation and establish evidence of a client’s former contractor’s new place of work. The contractor in question is suspected to employed with a direct competitor of the clients. previous investigations prove he was sharing confidential product designs with the new employer, putting him in breach of contract.
METHOD - Conduct a period of surveillance to evidence who the previous contractor is now working for. The client specifically requested that no video footage is to be obtained of the previous contractor’s home or anything unrelated to the objective.
OUTCOME - The previous contractor was observed (not filmed) exiting his home address at approximately 08:15hrs. He departed in his vehicle and was followed approximately 20 miles to a small supermarket. He went inside and purchased a sandwich, packet of crisps and a drink. The previous contractor then got back into his vehicle and drove a further 1 mile to a large industrial estate which is where the cameras were switched on. He pulled into the car park of the business the client suspected he was working and exited his vehicle with his lunch and a laptop bag. He then walked across the car park and entered the main front door with the company logo clearly displayed next to the door. The previous contractor was found to be in breach of contract. Evidence of confidential design sharing and proof of the previous contractor’s new place or work was distributed by our private investigator agency and the client filed a court injunction against him. Corporate investigations like this are essential for protecting business interests and preventing further losses. Complex fraud investigations often require forensic accounting and detailed analysis to uncover sophisticated schemes.
June 2020
Case Study - Fraudulent Personal Injury Claim Investigation
TASK - To establish whether a male painter and decorator was back at work and at what level following a vehicle collision and claiming through the insured driver’s policy that he was unable to work consecutive days for no more than 3 to 4 hours per day due to chronic pain in his arms and back. Noted - Prior observations had been conducted on the subject without success due to loss of contact during mobile follow procedures.
METHOD - To conduct three consecutive days of mobile surveillance on the subject to evidence his daily routines. The surveillance team consisted of two operatives to reduce the possibility of losing site of the subject.
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OUTCOME - On all three days of surveillance the subject was observed unloading and loading painting and decorating materials from the back of his pickup truck and into a total of X3 different properties. Time logged evidence proved the subject was working an average of 10-hour days. He displayed no signs of physical incapability and appeared fit for work. Due the factual based evidence provided by our private investigator agency, the subjects claim was proven to be fraudulent. A vehicle sighting report was crucial in documenting the subject's movements between properties, supporting the case. The company's insurance tells were instrumental in identifying fraudulent claims and ensuring the right outcome. Thorough investigations are vital in uncovering fraud, as previously mentioned. During the operation, a guy watching from a parked car provided backup surveillance. At one point, the subject was observed through a sliding glass door, allowing for clear visual confirmation. In a bizarre twist, we once encountered a case where someone was sticking random items in unusual places during surveillance, which made for an unexpected report.
February 2019
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Case Study - Moonlighting Investigation
TASK - To establish evidence of moonlighting (working for competitors) of a solicitor (specialising in PPI claims) who was at the time suspended without pay by his employer (law firm) pending an investigation for suspected theft of a large sum of money.
METHOD - To conduct three days of surveillance to establish whether the subject is working for competitors.
OUTCOME - During the course of the 3 days, the subject was followed to an office complex and was found to be running his own law firm specialising in PPI claims which was in direct competition of his employer. This evidence was distributed to the client by our private investigator agency however, any further action was not disclosed to us. In a case motivated by something that happened as a kid years ago, a client sought closure on a long-standing family mystery, which added a personal dimension to the investigation.
February 2018
Case Study - Infidelity Investigation
TASK - To establish evidence of a male suspected of infidelity who has previously been known for committing such acts. The male was under surveillance when previously suspected and the client did disclose the video evidence to him upon completion of the task.
METHOD - To deploy an experienced surveillance operative within our private investigator agency in order to conduct a period of covert surveillance. Surveillance to commence on an evening when the subject is due to have a night out with a friend and with the knowledge of the subject being surveillance aware.
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OUTCOME - The subject did in fact go on a night out with a friend however, two females met with the subject and his friend, which led to a bar crawl across the town and all four parties becoming extremely intoxicated. Throughout the evening, the subject was observed passionately kissing one of the females on a number of occasions before checking into a local hotel with her after last orders. The subject proved infidelity (again). This case is one of many infidelity investigations we have conducted, where surveillance and evidence gathering are key to confirming suspicions. People hide affairs in various ways, and our role is to uncover the truth through discreet observation. In this case, the investigators eventually caught the subject, providing the client with the evidence needed.
Investigation Techniques and Tools
Sentry Private Investigators rely on a sophisticated blend of traditional skills and modern technology to deliver results for our clients. At SPI, our team is trained to adapt to the unique demands of each case, whether it’s a complex fraud investigation, a sensitive child custody dispute, or a high-stakes corporate investigation. Our approach is always thorough, discreet, and tailored to the specific needs of the client.
Surveillance remains at the heart of private investigation. Our operatives are experts in conducting surveillance, sometimes described as “basically professional doorknob watching”, to gather evidence without detection. Whether it’s monitoring a cheating spouse during divorce proceedings or observing a subject suspected of committing workers comp fraud, our team uses a combination of mobile and static surveillance to capture critical evidence. In some cases, this means spending an entire night dressed for covert operations, waiting for just a wink or a subtle movement that could confirm suspicions.
Background checks and open-source intelligence are also essential tools in our investigative services. For example, when a young rich woman’s fiancé raised suspicions, our investigators delved into his financial records and business transactions, uncovering inconsistencies that proved invaluable in asset tracing and confirming hidden assets. Similarly, in child custody disputes, we conduct surveillance and background checks to gather evidence about a parent’s lifestyle, ensuring the welfare of the child is always the priority.
Technology plays a pivotal role in modern private investigation. Our toolkit includes hidden camera setups, GPS tracking devices, and advanced forensic software for analysing digital footprints. In cases involving people faking disability claims or collecting insurance money under false pretences, we might deploy hidden surveillance devices or even drones to document activities that contradict their statements to the insurance company. Our experience with disability carpooling Amish kids and other unusual scenarios means we’re prepared for even the most unexpected twists.
We also assist legal professionals and law firms by locating witnesses, conducting interviews, and gathering crucial evidence for court proceedings. Our expertise extends to corporate espionage and organised crime connections, where we use technical surveillance counter-measures (TSCM bug sweeps) to detect hidden listening devices and protect private conversations. Whether it’s a big oilfield construction company with multiple cars registered to a private collection, or a condo maintenance man suspected of misconduct, our PI team works with complete confidentiality and respect for boundaries.
Private Investigators UK - Industry Professional Associations
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Association of British Investigators
Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Awarded
Institute of Professional Investigators
Corporation of Professional Investigators
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UK Private Investigators Network
Contact a Private Investigator Agency for Investigative Services
If you require the services of a professional private investigator agency, get in touch with SPI. We work with our clientele is establish exactly what service is required for their enquiry, and we dispatch the most experienced and skilled private investigators in the industry. Private investigators are in high demand, and we as a private investigator agency work tirelessly to deliver exceptional results on a case by case basis.
To contact a private investigation agency, call SPI on 01217691626, or email us at info@sentryprivateinvestigators.co.uk.