Kurt Breetvelt - How to Become a Private Investigator

How to become a private investigator

Break into the industry with little or no experience

Kurt Breetvelt

Updated and expanded edition 2020

First published in New Zealand in 2017 by

WekaCo Ltd

PO Box 48186

Blockhouse Bay

Auckland 0644

Copyright Kurt Breetvelt

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Important Note: No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein.

The author is based in New Zealand. However, as much as possible, international language and investigative terms have been used.

Links: There are many links to books and articles throughout this book. All the links and references are summarized at the end of the book.

Opening

S o, you want to be a private investigator? Great!

You have a desire to enter one of the most exciting professions available. One where no two days are the same. One where you are constantly challenged and need to remain alert and engaged. One where youll regularly stop and think ...and Im actually getting paid for this!

The outlook for private investigators has never been brighter. As the industry has matured, so too have the opportunities. Private investigators are an accepted and necessary part of many legal procedures. Not only that, new technology is opening up ways for private investigators to add value to their clients and expand the areas in which they can assist.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for private investigators is expected to grow by 8% over the next 10 years.

The opportunity is there. And there are countless books and resources online that show you exactly how to do the work of a private investigator. As someone with no experience, its never been easier to become self-taught.

You know the work is there. You know you want to do it. If youve read enough or done some training already you might even know how to do the work. But how do you actually get that work in the first place?

What is the first step you need to take right now in order to become a private investigator? Not just getting your license, but getting your first few cases.

That is what this book is for.

There are plenty of other good books out there, especially when it comes to training. However, most of them have been written by seasoned investigators who have been on the job for 30 years and certainly havent had to apply for a new job in the last couple of decades.

I wanted to write this book now, before I forgot what it was like to be in your shoes.

A few years ago, I was in the position you are now. I had wanted to be a private investigator for years, but I had put it off thinking that I needed a normal job. And besides, how would I become one with no real experience?

Then one day I got made redundant from my normal job. The best break (in disguise) that I ever had. I received a good pay-out, I had a side business that would support me for a few months. I had the motivation, and now I finally had the time.

I was lucky, getting my license was easy. It may not be that easy for you but thats ok, well cover that. The real difficulty is getting those first few jobs, that experience that is so highly valued in this industry. That foot in the door.

It took me six months to get my first role in an investigative organization. Six long months! I could have given up; a lot of people have in much a shorter time. Would you?

But during those six months I read over 20 books and countless articles. I started my own business. I did practice investigations. I sent letters, I visited people, I hustled. Most of all, I learnt what it takes to get your foot in the door.

This book is six months of learning. I wish I had something like it when I started.

We cover everything from getting your license, personal attributes, equipment to start with, what to expect, how to get your first role and likely jobs in your first year. On top of that, youll come away with concrete actionable steps.

Before we start that though, well go through a few reasons why you shouldnt be a private investigator. If this is the first book youre reading you may not have had a chance to really think through what being an investigator is like. Perhaps youre still in the research phase or are generally unsure of whether its really for you. Thats fine. Hopefully this section will give you a lot more clarity, and it might be the reality check you need.

Knowing when to stop something is just as important as knowing when to pursue it.

I do hope you enjoy this book and get a lot of value out of it. Ive written it specifically for you.

If you have any questions or comments, Id love to hear from you. You can email me at

Introduction

The chase

H e slowly walks down the gangplank, struggling under the weight of two heavily laden backpacks. That fits the description, but is it the guy Im after? A quick double check of his picture on my phone confirms it. Back to watching him through my video camera.

A container truck blocks my view. By the time it clears hes disappeared. Damn! Two seconds later he reappears, hes stashed the bags behind the gangplank and is sitting, waiting. This could be a while, you never know how long for.

A taxi pulls up. A struggle to get the bags in the cab and then hes in the back, taxi heading towards the exit, straight past me. Video camera down, engine started ready for a vehicle tail. One car in-between us, perfect. Its a fairly short tail from the port to the train station. The taxi drops him off right next to the platform.