Private Investigator Blog

Los Angeles Private Investigator Patrick Schneemann on KTLA

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:45:58 +0000

For private investigators in Los Angeles, one of the biggest days of the year is Valentine’s Day. More than any other day, cheating spouses are out in full force. In this video, Western Investigations owner Patrick Schneemann is featured on KTLA News. Patrick shows how GPS tracking can be used to aid in surveillance, so odds of successfully achieving the clients objective are improved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npMZU9FQuGI

Looking for a private investigator in Fullerton, California?

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:30:38 +0000

With Valentine’s Day 2012 approaching fast, many people are thinking a lot about their relationships. For many, their relationship with their spouse or significant other is great. Others, however, may be wondering if their spouse is cheating on them. It’s at this time of year when many people call the private investigator Fullerton trusts: Western Investigations. We have thousands of hours of experience in catching cheaters. We are absolutely the surveillance EXPERTS. So, if your relationship is great, that is wonderful. But if you are suspicious, worried, and think your spouse may be cheating on you, we’re here to help.

Normally a cheating spouse investigation in Fullerton consists of 2 components: GPS tracking and surveillance. New clients will be asked to purchase a block of surveillance hours, depending on the circumstances of your case. Then, we’ll use GPS to determine the best times to utilize the surveillance hours. When we conduct surveillance, we will get video as well as still images. Simply put, we’ll get you as much evidence as possible.

Call us now and get the information you need. “Not knowing” is one of the hardest things. Wondering if he/she is cheating, thinking about it all the time, is very very hard. Whether it’s true or not, the one thing you need the most is to GET THE TRUTH! We can help.

Your Private Investigator in Beverly Hills

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:35:58 +0000

Beverly Hills, California is a very unique place. That characteristic is also what makes it a challenging place to conduct investigations and execute effective surveillance. As the most experienced and trusted private investigator in Beverly Hills, we have the local knowledge that can make the difference between success and failure. The situation you are facing demands success…you need to get answers. Don’t trust that responsibility to “just anyone.” When you work with us, you’ll know from the minute you call that you’re working with a professional you can trust. If you have investigation needs in or around Beverly Hills, call us today for a free and completely confidential consultation.

Western in Palm Springs

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:34:53 +0000

At Western Investigations we service all of Southern California, including Palm Springs. Our Palm Springs private investigators are experienced, well trained locals. If you need help getting answers to some difficult questions in or around Palm Springs, California, call us at Western PI. We’ll take the time to listen to you, and to understand the unique circumstances of your situation & needs. We value your privacy and everything we discuss is completely confidential.

Patrick the PI Catches First Moments of Raging Housefire On Film

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:25:45 +0000

Western Investigations founder and lead private investigator Patrick Schneemann (also known as “Patrick the PI”) broke off of a surveillance case to instead film the first moments of a housefire that broke out nearby. CBS 8 in San Diego spoke with Patrick as well as a former firefighter who was on the scene. To read the full story and watch the video click the image below or click here to go to CBS8.com

“Rise of the Private Eye”

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:58:48 +0000

The Daily Express in the U.K. posted an interesting article discussing the increasing use of private investigators by the general public. The technology available today plays a big part in the effectiveness and affordability of utilizing a private detective such as Western Investigations.

To quote the Express, in part:

The private investigator of today, however, does not need to just skulk on dimly lit corners. A plethora of sophisticated technology is at their disposal to track their quarry.

View the Full Article

Facebook’s new Facial Recognition Feature

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:16:19 +0000

Do you use Facebook? Chances are good that you do, as currently over half of the US population is part of the massive social network. Privacy has been a big concern for many individuals and watchdog groups seemingly from the very beginning of Facebook. Their most recent feature is sure to cause some backlash as well: Facial Recognition.

That’s right. After uploading a picture, a simple mouseover your face and Facebook will automatically tag the photo with your name. For many people this is a convenient feature, but it also might be one that you are not interesting in allowing.

Facial recognition software is not quite within the reach of use by Los Angeles private investigators yet, but it’s definitely on Facebook. If you want to protect your privacy and not allow Facebook to “recognize” your face, you can opt out in your Facebook account settings. The LA Times has an article with more information here.

Remember…anything you do online you must assume is public. Emails, Facebook, and nearly any other online communication can often be much more accessible than you would ever think.

The Value of Trash

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:26:23 +0000

As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

In many cases, trash pickup day every week provides a perfect opportunity to gather valuable information. Although some people use shredders, the majority of people out there do not. In some cases, our local private investigator in Los Angeles or elsewhere in California will covertly pull a subject’s trash and/or recycle from their cans.

The recovered trash may yield a lot of valuable items, including:

Bills and payment stubs
Credit card receipts
Personal notes
Pertinent mail

Digging through trash may not sound like something you’d like to spend your Saturday afternoon doing, but it certainly can be a valuable tool in the course of an investigation. Thankfully we will take care of the pulling and sorting for you!

Gathering evidence effectively means using any methods as long as they are legal and ethical. Several court rulings have set a precedent that once trash is set out, it is no longer private property and may be salvaged by anyone. Police officers also use trash pulls as part of their investigations, often to gather enough evidence to be able to get a search warrant for the inside of the premises.

So you should be aware that if you work with us, we may use a trash pull during the investigation if your case calls for it. Of course we’ll always discuss our entire strategy with you in full.

And a word to the wise out there…if you think someone may have reason or desire to gather evidence about you, be careful what you put in your trash!

Cheating Spouse Surveillance | FAQ

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:47:59 +0000

When someone is considering hiring a private detective, there are some questions that come up often in our consultations, and they are important to consider. Below you’ll find many of your concerns addressed. (click to expand)

Does the investigator have experience and actually know what they are doing?

One of the most critical components of private investigation work is experience. The simple truth is that experience counts. It matters for the success of your case as well as the service you receive. As one of the most experienced private investigators in Los Angeles, we have handled thousands of cases. Each case has it’s own unique circumstances and each unfolds differently. This vast and varied experience allows us to offer a service unlike other more inexperienced private detective agencies. Call us and you will experience a level of trust, assistance, and results beyond what you expect.

How does the investigation process work?

Exactly how a case “works” depends upon the unique circumstances of that case. However, there are a few things that typically occur.

First, you will consult with our lead investigator. He will listen to your needs and ask additional questions in order to fully understand your needs.
The lead investigator will recommend a case strategy, and clearly communicate it so that you’ll know exactly what the plan is.
Once we begin, you will work with our Case Manager throughout the remainder of your case.
Your case manager will give you all the updates on your case, and be available for questions & concerns.
You will also work with your case manager to convey your spouse’s whereabouts when appropriate, to allow us to appropriately schedule surveillance and other case activities.

At this point, how the case proceeds will be determined by your objective, and the results achieved so far. To get a more detailed idea of what would be involved in your specific circumstances, simply give us a call 24 hours a day.

How much will it cost?

Surveillance cases are billed on a per hour basis. Hourly rates start at $100 per hour, and we discount rates when you purchase a block of multiple hours. Normally you will invest in an initial retainer to cover a block of hours as well as GPS or other necessary services, depending on your case. For detailed information about what you will need to invest in your situation in order to achieve your objective, call us for a free consultation.

Are you considering looking into your someone’s activities? Call for a Free, Confidential Consultation: 800.656.6975

Is Audio Surveillance Legal?

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:31:24 +0000

We often receive questions like “Can you bug a room to record the audio?” or ”Can you record my husband cell phone conversations?”

Although audio recording would be very useful in many investigations, the bottom line is most types of audio recording are illegal. This would include telephone and cell phone conversations, audio within a room or car, etc. As a result, we do not conduct any audio surveillance.

United States Code, Title 18, Section 2510 states:
“…‘oral communication’ uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation.”

In plain terms, audio recording is illegal unless both parties are aware it is being done. So in order to record audio within a room, car, building, office, store, or anywhere else…you would have to literally tell both parties they are being recorded, or have a clear sign posted indicating audio recording is in progress. Obviously in terms of use by a private investigator, audio recording where both parties are aware they are being recorded is not very useful.

Given the above, we do not use any audio recording whatsoever and rely instead primarily on video & photographic evidence. Although the federal law quoted above applies nationwide, individual state and local laws do vary and you should consult with a local attorney if necessary.

Please Note

We are not lawyers. The information above is a)based on the author’s opinion and interpretation, and b)purely for information purposes. It should NOT be taken as legal advice.