Employee theft is a crime that takes place more often than you would think. You may be thinking, ‘But I have such a small business, nothing like that could happen to me!’ Well, sadly, that is not the case. Research shows that no matter what the company’s size is and regardless of the industry, employee theft takes place in some form or the other. Statistics show that, on average, $50 billion is stolen annually from businesses in the US by their employees. Here is why you should hire a private investigator if you suspect that you are a victim of employee theft.
Why Do Companies Hire A Private Detective?
Having worked hard for a long time trying to establish your dream business from the ground up after giving up so much precious time and resources, you would want security so that no one can disrupt the rewards of your hard work. Thus, it can be very frustrating to learn that an employee is stealing out of your hard-earned money.
Most business owners would not think that hiring an experienced private detective is essential for the safety of their company. However, there are many advantages of hiring a private investigator from Oklahoma City in comparison to internal departments and employees.
Local police officials may be able to aid you in the scenario if a theft by an employee takes place. However, if you hire a private investigator from OKC beforehand, you may be able to catch unforeseen problems and may even be able to prevent employee theft from taking place. PIs can perform computer forensics and use surveillance footage to smell anything fishy that may be going on.
Companies can save time and money by hiring a private detective rather than requesting police assistance. Investigators can perform undercover operations, plan out interviews, and use specialized surveillance techniques that can all be used as objective evidence of wrongdoing and it will be admissible in court.
How To Know That You Need To Hire A Private Investigator
There are a few things that business owners can do to identify and also prevent further damage from theft. These are a few of the signs that are indications that a company needs to hire a private investigator:
- If an employee is refusing to take off, that’s a red flag. Thieves would not take any holidays to avoid their illegal activities being unearthed in their absence.
- If an employee is refusing to work with any other member of the team, then they may be up to no good. You may think an employee just wants to work alone and may be an introvert, but they may be preventing themselves from being caught. Also make sure to note if an employee is always the first one to get to work and the last one to leave, as even though that sounds like an ideal employee, it may be a sign of employee theft.
- If items are missing from the office without any explanation, then, of course, you should be concerned. If you notice that checks, petty cash, office supplies, or merchandise have seemingly vanished into the air, then you should enlist the help of a private detective.
Several ways how private investigators assist in employee theft :
GATHER EVIDENCE :
A private investigator can start an investigation to catch the employee theft. They gather evidence from investigations, inventory records, audits, witness statements, financial records, and other documents that relate to employee theft.
INVESTIGATION THROUGH INTERVIEW:
Private investigators are experienced in taking interviews for investigation and interrogation. They take necessary information from the employees who help out in the investigation. They use effective questioning techniques to find the truth and use different strategies to gather information related to employee theft.
SUPERVISION SECRETLY:
Private investigators are experts in supervising secretly to monitor employee behavior and activities discreetly. This can help uncover patterns of suspicious behavior, unauthorized activities, or theft in progress. Inception can be conducted both on-site and off-site, depending on the circumstances.
RECOVER ASSETS :
In case of employee theft, where the company loses assets and finances. The private investigator provides their services to recover these assets and finance. They collectively work with the legal firm and specialist to recover these assets.
REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION:
The private investigators provide detailed documentation and reports of their findings, including evidence gathered, witness statements, surveillance footage, and investigative conclusions. This documentation can be used as evidence in legal proceedings, disciplinary actions, or insurance claims related to employee theft.
SECURITY RECOMMENDATION:
While solving this case the private investigator addresses current instances of employee theft, private investigators can also provide recommendations for improving internal controls, security protocols, and fraud prevention measures, employee training programs, to minimize the risk of future theft incidents.
Remember, it will not hurt to get a second opinion. In this case, hiring a private investigator can be extremely beneficial for you and your company to prevent any further harm.
