2017 February

Private investigators in Boise have a full arsenal of tools of the trade although they don’t always use each of them. Different kinds of investigations require different pieces of equipment. This is why it is important to have a good supply of the latest and most up-to-date tools in order to complete an investigation quickly and efficiently. But what are some of the favorite pieces of equipment? Let’s take a look at the top three items the detectives at Custer Agency like to use:

1 – Cameras

Although a good quality digital camera is always handy, lawyers typically find photos taken by them hard to trust. With the mechanical means that exists in today’s world in the form of photo software, it isn’t hard to manipulate digital photos to look like something they are not. That is why a good old print camera is one of the most valuable and most favorite pieces of equipment of many detectives. The negatives don’t lie and can’t be altered. Add to this a good quality video camera for various surveillance investigations. Video does not lie and provides good evidence.

2 – Cell Phones

Believe it or not, with a cell phone the private investigators in Boise can conduct a lot of business. Plus, it really makes it easier to follow leads and get in contact with anyone anywhere. Having to locate phone booths and public phones are a thing of the past now that cell phone technology exists. Also, with the different apps one can download to a smart phone, additional tools come into play ranging from GPS location services, a flashlight or voice recorder to hunting down information on the internet from the palm of your hand.

3 – Computer Software

The most valuable of the favorite computer programs in use by private investigators in Boise would be propriety databases. Some of these are only available to law enforcement agencies, private detectives and other similar user agencies. These databases have information that the average person cannot access which makes them invaluable. Especially when it comes to record searches, background checks and the need to find specific information related to an investigation that is not available through other public record databases.

Contact Custer Agency

There are several ways in which the private investigators in Boise approach a case. This is why it is important to have a number of different tools for the job. However, some of the equipment gets used more than others which make them popular. If you are in need of the expertise of a professional detective for a case, give the private investigators at Custer Agency a call today. Let them put their favorite tools and their special skills to work for you.

Aerial Drones and Privacy Laws

They are becoming commonplace and the private investigators in Boise are as concerned about drones as you are. Drones are technically unmanned flying machines that can be equipped with cameras. They are used a lot for private business ventures such as for real estate videos and photos from overhead, wedding photography and even to keep an eye on property or large herds of animals. Some drone users have embraced the technology and created a whole new way we look at ourselves and the world around us.

However, other drone users are less professional in the way they use the flying cameras and this has opened doors related to privacy laws. The private investigators in Boise have been watching this very closely as a result. While drone use has increased, the threat to privacy has as well. As for legislation, it varies considerably from state to state. Even some municipalities have strict guidelines regarding the use of drones for any kind of aerial photography. The main issue is that there is no clear national regulation beyond where they can fly.

The history of drones is closely linked to various forms of surveillance with their origins deeply rooted in military use. In fact, many governments employ the use of drones to provide surveillance today. The use of drones capturing video is referred to as persistent surveillance where an aerial photograph snapped by one is known as a form of episodic surveillance. The fine line that has brought about concerns related to privacy issues is which form of surveillance is the more intrusive and can you protect yourself from either.

Governments view snapped photographs as incremental observations and not exactly an invasion of privacy. However, privacy laws tend to focus on where a person is located and whether or not a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. It’s like comparing aerial photos of someone in an open area to those of the same person inside a building. The fine line continued to get blurred which has become a great cause for concern by law abiding citizens. It has also become an issue for the private investigators in Boise when privacy issues become part of their caseload.

Contact Custer Agency Today

If you feel that your privacy has been violated in any way through surveillance conducted by any kind of drone vehicle, contact the detectives at Custer Agency. The private detectives in Boise at Custer Agency will use their knowledge to assist you to protect your privacy and the privacy of your family members.

How a Private Investigator in Boise Approaches Adoption Investigations

One specialized branch of detective work revolves around adoptions. A private investigator in Boise may be called upon to conduct this kind of search for a variety of reasons and rely on several resources. As you can imagine, with most states sealing adoption records, and a lack of public records to access, adoption and search reunion investigations are time consuming. This is where a good detective can unlock the clues necessary to meet the client’s needs.

Why An Adoption Investigation?

The majority of adoption investigations are for adoptees that were born between 1950 and 1980. The common reasons for tracking down a birth mother is so a child can learn more about family histories, social and cultural heritage, to reunite with siblings or other family members.

Parents often rely on the private investigators in Boise for this kind of detective work for different reasons. They include family history research for genealogical purposes and for reconciliation with children.

Doctors utilize adoption investigation services as a means of tracking family medical histories. Law enforcement agencies look to these kinds of searches when tracing a person’s criminal history related to an ongoing crime investigation.

How Are They Conducted?

As most adoption records are unavailable to private investigators in Boise, one of the most reliable sources of information is through family history researchers. Genealogy resources ranging from family history databases and libraries can provide valuable information.

In addition, regional and local family history hobbyists are incredible sources. Many have amassed data details that do not exist on public ancestry online sources. As a result, some of these resourceful genealogists can provide a detective will intricate information that may have taken years to collect and document.

Private investigators in Boise will gather the information required and in the case of a reunion, discover names, locate residential locations and build background information. This is used to prepare the birth parents in advance of arranging a reunion.

For adoptees, information is gathered with often not much more than the name of the birth mother. Investigators will search marriage and divorce records and will use this information to locate the person before contact is made.

For More Information

Whether you are a parent locating a child that was put up for adoption, or an adoptee searching for birth parents, our private investigators can assist. Contact Custer Agency in Boise for all the details in order to launch your adoption search and reunion investigation.

How Private Investigators in Boise do Background Checks

Known as a background investigation, there are several reasons why private investigators in Boise would look into someone’s past. These checks are usually conducted for pre-employment or pre-marital reasons. Another cause for a background investigation is when a subject is about to assume a position that involves a high level of security or fiduciary trust.

The complexity of such an information investigation varies depending on the circumstances and requirements. Some require reference verification on job applications or a basic criminal records check. Others may involve going back at least ten years looking for such items as a criminal record or incidents documented in civil law courts.

The tools and methods used by private investigators in Boise are many and here are just a few:

1 – Online Newspapers

Thanks to the internet, searching newspaper archives for information on a subject is much easier and faster. Various pieces of data published in newspapers can become important parts of a background investigation. They also serve as great sources for character reference material if the subject has a high profile in their specific community.

2 – Prison Records

Jail records are available online through the Federal Bureau of Prisons if the subject has served time in a federal facility. The information available includes where and when a sentence was served as well as the release date. For county jails the same information is usually a phone call away just by contacting the local facility and speaking with staff on duty.

3 – Property Taxes

If a background investigation requires information on whether or not a subject owns property there is a source for this data. Private investigators in Boise refer to Tax Appraisal District records which can reveal a lot of details related to property ownership. The records usually require a physical search but can be accessed by visiting an office in the county seat.

4 – Social Media

Believe it or not, any and all feeds from social media networks can yield a lot of information to fill out a search of someone’s history. All popular social media platforms have archives that can be easily searched. Privacy settings allow you to restrict access but in the case of an employment-related background check, it may look as if you are hiding something.

5 – Educational Records

Private investigators in Boise will search school records to determine attendance and degrees attained. Some data is restricted for privacy reasons but many colleges will provide basic information and the ones that don’t may have data stored through the National Student Clearing House. That’s where verification of education information can be obtained.

6 – Take Out The Trash

Yes, it is true. Sometimes the best source of information for a background check can come directly from someone’s trash can. There are only a few reasons why a detective would go through the contents of a garbage can and can only legally access trash cans that are sitting on the curb for pick up and not any sitting on private property.

Contact Custer Agency For Information

If you are in need of a background investigation before hiring someone or wish to verify someone’s past prior to marriage, the private investigators in Boise can help. They are trained to conduct these checks quickly and efficiently so you get the information you require. For more information contact Custer Agency today.