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Using Vehicle Trackers - Why & Where We Use Them....

2011-09-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

A tool often used in our surveillance investigations is the vehicle tracker.

These invaluable pieces of technology have come on leaps and bounds from the types we used 10 years ago.

The size of a match box, our covert vehicle trackers fit onto any vehicle completely out of view and undetectable unless the vehicle is put on a ramp!

Our trackers provide us with constant information relating to the location of the vehicle it is attached to. This information is accurate down to 2 meters and not only does it give us the location, but also the vehicles speed, where it stops, for how long.

With a constant supply of information we are able to monitor the vehicle from a remote location such as our office or from one of our covert surveillance vehicles.

Our trackers are fitted to all manner of vehicles including:

Cars

Lorries

Vans

Motorcycles

Plant equipment

Small aircraft

Trackers are a cost effective asset for finding out where an individual is working, living, visiting or doing something they shouldn’t be doing.

The scenarios we investigate include:

The taxi driver who was working as a courier when being paid to use the taxi company’s vehicle for operating solely as a taxi.

The sales rep who was visiting escorts and massage parlours up to 50 miles off his patch incurring increased fuel bills for his employer.

Cheating spouses who drive their vehicle to meet up for an illicit affair when they have told their partner that they are attending somewhere else.

If you would like to know more about our vehicle tracking service contact us now

Why We Are So Successful At Finding People..

2011-06-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

we are experts at finding people

People go missing for a number of reasons, some are explainable, and others are never known only by the person who chooses to walk away from their current existence.

With the powerful tool that is the internet, a proportion of missing people can be found by focused and tenacious perseverance if you know where to look and use the information you already possess in a methodical and systematic way.

Then there are those people who are more difficult to locate, that’s where we come in.

We do not hide the fact that we use the internet to assist us in our searches for missing family and missing people. But we also utlilise our experience gained as skillful and highly trained police officers, speaking with various organisations that we know will help us in our search, along with members of the public who may possess snippets of information that fill in the gaps of our intelligence picture.

And it is not just knowing who to speak to but also what to ask them. Prior to contacting potential witnesses and holders of information, we prepare our meetings and contact ensuring that the time spent with the person or organisation is going to be fruitful and relevant providing a valuable clue bringing us closer to the person we are seeking.

We are very proud of our success rate in finding people. We have reunited family members who have lost touch over the years, parents who were separated from a child at birth, and children who are seeking their real mother and father.

Of course our task is made easier with the more information that can be provided. And for this reason we have created a comprehensive list of questions covering all aspects of tracing a missing person.

From there we allocate the enquiry to one of our detectives who take ownership of the search and carry out all tasks, interviews and visits. No work is farmed out and once we believe we have located the person we do everything we can discreetly and in total confidence to confirm the person is who we are seeking.

No Find-No Fee, we do not ask for payment until we are confident that we have located the missing person.

If you would like us to find someone you wish to make contact with again, then get in touch, we would be happy to

If there is someone you would like to find and want peace of mind that professionals are out there looking for them on your behalf, then contact us at SGH & Associates to discuss your situation.

Remember we offer a confidential and discreet service, we tell no one what the purpose of our enquiry is who we are seeking and importantly who we are working for.

Covert cameras are not just for security....

2011-04-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Nowadays covert cameras come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with no limit to where they can be fitted. There uses are equally as varied.

As part of our investigation strategies into theft in the workplace, we regularly use covert cameras for monitoring a particular location or observing people and staff that are suspected of some sort of illicit behaviour.

Investigations such as catching an employee stealing from the workplace, or watching what takes place in the office behind the bosses back are the most common incident we use hidden cameras for.

But there are other situations when we have been called upon to install a hidden camera.

We have seen a marked increase in the request for installing a covert device in a nursing home room or hospital ward where family of an elderly or vulnerable relative are concerned for the care they’re loved one is receiving. We are asked to examine the possibilities for fitting a covert device to obtain the evidence the family require satisfying their doubts and taking positive action.

It is our experience and knowledge of this type of investigation that allows our devices to remain secret and undiscovered whilst obtaining the necessary information. We are able to secrete a camera into any environment along with our advanced audio listening devices for any length of time that is needed to catch the offender.

As private investigators involved in this type of work it is highly rewarding to obtain the evidence of neglect, theft, abuse or in some cases unlawful assault, which identifies a person who is trusted to attend and care for a vulnerable person.

Our evidence has resulted in these callous and evil people receiving their just rewards as handed down by the courts, thus safeguarding the welfare of the victim and possible others.
If you have concerns over the welfare of a relative or someone you care for and suspect they maybe being treated badly or in risk of harm, then contact us to discuss how we can help.

Listening Devices & Hidden Cameras - Are We Just Being Paranoid?

2011-01-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years we have seen a 40% increase in demand for our bug detector service.

This increase in clients wanting to know if their premises are being bugged is due mainly to the availability of low cost highly effective covert devices such as hidden cameras that can be as small as a pin head, and listening devices that can be installed in furniture, mobile phones and electrical appliances, and vehicle trackers that are as small as a box of matches but provide pinpoint accuracy.

Our client base varies greatly from couples who are engaged in a divorce / custody battle, businesses who feel their confidential affairs are being compromised, along with individuals who believe that a law enforcement agency is monitoring their movements and associations, or a jealous partner who is keeping tags on their partner’s activities when they are not around.

Whatever the reason for the suspicion to be aroused, it is an uncomfortable and nervous feeling to believe that someone is prying on you whilst you are at work, or in the privacy of your home.

For less than £100 a person can purchase a covert bug with complete anonymity. Depending on the type of device, the results are quite amazing for the price paid.

With listening devices that can be turned on and off remotely to extend battery life, the clarity of sound and coverage is outstanding and allows the listener to hear every word in the room and often conversations from other areas of the building (depending on ambient sounds). And all of this can be done in the comfort of a remote location.

Covert hidden cameras have come a long way in the last few years. With devices that can be concealed literally anywhere including soft furnishings, curtains, toys, fixed appliances the casual observer would not be able to locate their existence unless they have the knowledge and equipment to detect their presence. These cameras are able to send their images to a remote location by way of various means allowing the viewer to observe the activity in a location some distance away, often several miles away.

As ex-police detectives and experienced investigators involved in operations where covert devices and vehicle trackers have been secreted, we are familiar with the covert equipment that is available to both private customers and members of the establishment. To combat these devices we have the appropriate equipment to carry out a full bug sweep and identify the presence of covert listening bugs and detect hidden cameras. As well as our cutting edge technology, we possess the experience and skill to physically search for such devices and remove them.

If you are looking for a professional bug detector service contact us on 0845 130 9592 or e-mail us here

Car Trackers - The Spy Tool That Delivers

2010-12-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

Following a person’s movements in their car or vehicle over a long period of time can be a costly exercise, particularly if the individual you want to know more about carries out legitimate work or visits over time in their vehicle. Our tracking devices are fitted secretly on any vehicle and would be extremely difficult to locate without having the vehicle on a garage ramp.

The trackers send their location to a global positioning satellite (GPS) which in turn send the information to our computer. This information details where the vehicle currently is and also places it has been whilst the tracker has been fitted. The tracker also tells us what route the vehicle has taken, where it has stopped and for how long. All of this data can be kept and mapped out for further analysis and information gathering, giving us a clear picture over a particular length of time of vehicles movements.

Our vehicle trackers are also able to be pre-programmed to tell us when the vehicle has entered a particular area or region, great for letting us know if we want to get in position to obtain surveillance evidence of the person. It is also useful for identifying areas that the vehicle should not be entering such as an employee who is venturing off their work route, such as going out of their way to carry out their own business using a company vehicle. We find it s particularly useful for intelligence gathering on an individual where little is known of their movements, without resorting to following someone around in the hope they do something the client suspects them of. Such as a cheating partner who is suspected of having an affair whilst they are supposed to be at work.

Car trackers have come a long way from when they first appeared on the market and are a great tool for covertly monitoring someone’s movements.
If you would like to know more about our vehicle tracking service or how much it costs to use a car tracking device, then contact us here.

Following People - Anyone can do it .....Can't They?

2010-09-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Have they seen you?

As surveillance detectives, following a persons movements and observing what they get up to, who they meet and where they go is a big part of our day to day business. But is the business of following someone something anyone can do, or do you need to be a seasoned professional. After all, what can be hard about tailing someone and filming them without being noticed?

So you think you're a surveillance expert?

Explaining to a lay person that carrying out surveillance on an individual is not how it appears in TV cop shows.
There are a number of factors to consider even before the person who is being surveilling has moved.

Is there more than one exit to the premises from which they are in?
What form of transport will they use car, bus, taxi, train, bike, get picked up? And how will I be able to keep up if they cahnege their mode of transport.
How will the person be recognised if there are multiple people at the premises?
What cover story do I use if I am approached by a member of the public, or worse, the person I am following?
Do I have the necessary equipment to obtain the evidence I need to show the client?

Questions such as these continue as the surveillance continues, particularly if the surveillance is in a car. Regard to traffic law is just one issue when following someone in a car, along with personal safety and not showing out to the person being followed are other important considerations.

As an example, next time your'e out and about in your car, chose a vehicle to follow and see how long you can stay with them, keeping them in view and not losing them for more than 3 seconds. (Once 3 seconds have passed you will be lucky to see it again).

This will show you just how difficult folowing someone is. If you stay with them, well done you. Now think how you will cope if they park up their car and get on a train and are picked up at the other end! Not so easy now is it. And this is before you have got the camera out to get the proof of their wrong doing!

Its fair to say that no surveillance investigation is the same. People do the most unexpected things when they are up to no good.

Whether its following a cheating husband / unfaithful wife, or observing an employee who is stealing from their company, their behaviour and actions cannot be predicted.

It is this unpredictability that makes following people such an exciting and rewarding part of our private investigators business.

If you are interested in using us to follow someone, get in touch with us at SGH & Associates - Private Investigators

How Do I find Out if My New Neighbourhood is the Right Place for My Family? Answer- Get A Neighbourhood Check Done

2010-06-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Moving house is for many of us a huge commitment and a time of stress and anxiety. These emotions can be further enhanced by moving to an area that we are not familiar with.

From surveys carried out, more people research the purchase of a new car than they do about the property they are renting or buying in an area they are moving into. This is considering that the purchase of a new home is at least ten times the value of the average family car.

For families these checks are essential. As well as the obvious questions we ask about the area, there are a significant number of checks that need to be carried out. Even if we believe we know the area there are still matters that need to be explored.

So, what do we need to think about when moving to a new area?

is the area a crime hotspot?

are there any registered sex offenders living in the vicinity?

does the area suffer with anti social behaviour at particular times?

are there regular incidents that involve disrupting the local residents daily routine?

are the pubs a magnet for trouble makers and late night drinking?

have house prices altered significantly in the past, if so why?

what is the standard of the local amenities?

These are just some of the issues to be considered before we move onto the subjects of schools, proposed building plans, traffic problems, environmental implications such as smells and pollution, disruptive neighbours, local government facilities such as prisons, bail hostels.

All of these are potential factors that could disrupt our quality of life in an area we have chosen and want to feel safe and secure.

How would you feel if you had purchased your dream home to go with the new job and within your street was a local authority accommodation for newly released sex offenders and violent individuals who are being prepared for release back into the community? It is not a place I would feel safe in, and certainly not feel comfortable in allowing my children to play or walk past.

At least if we are aware of one or more of these problems before moving to a new area, we can make informed decisions and assess the potential problem with settling into our new home.

If you need a comprehensive neighbourhood check carrying out in your neighbourhood and would like to know exactly what you is happening around you, contact us and we will provide you with an intensive, detailed and accurate picture of your community.

Give yourself peace of mind, that the area to which you are looking to live in is right for you and your family.

Tracing Debtors.....they can run but they can't hide.

2010-05-05T01:33:00.000-07:00

Because of the financial hardship affecting businesses both large and small, it is no surprise that we are extremely busy with our corporate clients.
We are seeing a significant number of clients wanting to trace people who owe them money, in some cases not large amounts, but enough that it is hurting their own cash flow situation. In previous years these amounts would have been written off.

From our perspective these people are using cunning and devious methods to cover their tracks to avoid being found, including posting false information about themselves on social networking sites, giving friends and relatives false information knowing it will be passed on, and in one recent case taking on a whole new identity.

Although the people we are looking for are usually well educated and have a reasonable level of intelligence, they do not realise what clues they have left in their personal profile.
It is these clues that we pick up from the various people they have come into contact with over the years, clues that cannot be silenced or deleted, and allow us to build an accurate, personal and detailed picture of our quarry.

Obviously there is other information that we collate as a matter of course, but usually it is the little snippets of information in the back of someone’s mind that gives us the missing piece of information that we need.

Needless to say we get them in the end, it’s just a matter of persevering and turning over every stone looking for those clues.

The knock on effect is plainly obvious, but it also sends out a message that responsible businesses that operate fairly and honestly will not be treated this way and left to carry the can for those who simply shirk their responsibilities and leave someone else to pick up the tab.

It may be a small amount to one business but if the debtor owes numerous people then they are worth seeking and emptying out their pockets. It all adds up.
Contact us HERE if you wish to discuss our debtor tracing service.