Will “Private Detectives and Investigators” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Gather, analyze, compile and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 33-9021.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 53,530.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
• Currently, there are 28,490 people on this job

Also Known As…

• Special Investigator
• Private Investigator
• Loss Prevention Officer
• Loss Prevention Investigator
• Loss Prevention Detective
• Loss Prevention Associate
• Loss Prevention Agent
• Investigator
• Field Investigator
• Asset Protection Detective
• Undercover Operator
• Undercover Agent
• Surveillance Investigator
• Store Detective
• Skip Tracer
• Skip Locator
• Shopping Investigator
• Security Consultant
• Security Analyst
• Protection Specialist
• Private Eye
• Private Detective
• Loss Prevention Analyst
• Investigations Director
• Intelligence Agent
• House Officer
• House Detective
• District Agent
• Detective Investigator
• Detective
• Certified Legal Investigator
• Cash Shortage Investigator
• Bonding Agent
• Background Investigator
• Alarm Investigator

Tasks for “Private Detectives and Investigators”

• Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
• Apprehend suspects and release them to law enforcement authorities or security personnel.
• Investigate companies' financial standings or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.
• Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
• Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
• Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
• Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.
• Monitor industrial or commercial properties to enforce conformance to establishment rules and to protect people or property.
• Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
• Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.
• Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
• Warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises and eject them from premises when necessary.
• Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.
• Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
• Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
• Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.
• Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages.

Related Technology & Tools

• Compact digital cameras
• Digital audio recorders
• Digital video cameras
• Biological evidence collection kits
• Desktop computers
• Global positioning system GPS receivers
• Night vision goggles
• 35 millimeter cameras
• Handguns
• Personal computers
• Laptop computers
• Computer data input scanners
• Optical telescopes
• Fingerprint evidence kits
• High powered binoculars

• Microsoft Word
• Data entry software
• Web browser software
• LexisNexis
• Computer imaging software
• Microsoft Office
• Email software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook