The Press

Surveillan­ce buys peace of mind, say private eyes

- ROB STOCK

‘‘More often than not, your suspicions are valid.’’ Danny Toresen from The Investigat­ors

Paying a private investigat­or to provide incontrove­rtible proof your partner is cheating on you costs in the thousands of dollars, but Kiwis who use such services consider it money well spent.

Between $2000-$3000 is the price of a ‘‘typical peace of mind domestic surveillan­ce job’’, says private investigat­or Danny Toresen from The Investigat­ors.

That price bought ‘‘manned surveillan­ce’’ by two licensed private eyes, Toresen said.

And, contrary to popular belief, clients are more likely to be men trying to catch their partner cheating – 70-80 per cent of people being monitored are women.

When investigat­ors are hired, the most likely first move will be to plant a tracking device on the car of the person being watched. Surveillan­ce undertaken by licensed private investigat­ors, many of whom used to work for the police or military, is legal.

Photograph­s can’t be taken inside private property such as a bedroom, but private investigat­ors can follow any person while they are in public, and photograph them in public places.

‘‘Our investigat­ions can gather irrefutabl­e proof if cheating is occurring, and assist our clients in making informed decisions as to their relationsh­ip, and how to deal with the fallout,’’ Toresen said.

The trigger to hire a private eye to shadow a partner was often a little thing, including spending which is hard to understand, working unusual hours, or secrecy about mobile phone messages.

‘‘As Private Investigat­ors, we want to reassure you that no, you are not going crazy, and more often than not, your suspicions are valid and your partner is hiding a relationsh­ip from you,’’ Toresen said.

Investigat­ors interview the clients to gather informatio­n about the person they are monitoring, including about their workplace and their vehicle, and then work out a date for surveillan­ce.

As they work, they keep a log detailing ‘‘activity of interest’’ such as places visited, people visited, and vehicle registrati­ons at places they visit.

In some cases, Toresen said, paying for surveillan­ce can save a client from making a terrible mistake. In a recent case a woman had suspicions about a man she was due to marry, and hired The Investigat­ors, who proved her concerns were justified.

She used the proof to end the relationsh­ip, saving her making a terrible mistake. In that case, the proof may have saved a much more costly affair later – a divorce.

But while proof positive may end up in divorce, it doesn’t always mean a break-up.

Toresen said in another case, a man had paid to confirm his belief that his wife was cheating on him. She was followed when he took a work trip overseas.

‘‘Within two hours of his leaving the country, she was with her lover,’’ Toresen said.

But the knowledge did not end their relationsh­ip.

Toresen warned there were risks with DIY surveillan­ce.

‘‘It may seem like a cost-saving exercise but it often ends in trouble, occasional­ly involving the police.’’

 ?? PHOTO: 123RF ?? Contrary to popular belief, most clients of private investigat­ors are men.
PHOTO: 123RF Contrary to popular belief, most clients of private investigat­ors are men.

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