Historically, it’s been a challenge to prevent art theft even when the security of the most famous creations in the world hung in the balance. When Vincent van Gogh’s painting of poppy flowers was stolen in 1977, right out of the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Egypt, nobody could have imagined that it would be recovered in Kuwait a decade later, and then stolen once again from it’s Cairo home in 2010.
The mind marvels in a similar way at the failure to prevent jewelry theft by the infamous Pink Panther gang, who have made off with roughly $US1 billion in sparkling European treasures over the course of the last four decades.
But technology is finally catching up with these bad actors, making it more difficult than ever for them to traffic their loot and evade capture. Only last year, Interpol caught up with and arrested Pink Panther gang members in Spain, ensuring a sigh of relief among jewelry dealers across the continent.
But the advent of new tech doesn’t just mean greater capability in tracking and locating stolen goods and perpetrators. It also means far greater capacity to protect our most prized and valuable assets in the first place. Check out this exciting tech, accessible to collectors everywhere, and created to prevent art theft and jewelry theft for good.Collectors Prevent Jewelry Theft and Art Theft with Tiny Tracking Devices These days, a heist like the one carried out in Cairo—twice—would be a far riskier endeavor for the criminals thanks to the introduction of cutting-edge tracking devices, designed to be used to tag a broad range of valuables.
These minuscule gadgets are so small that they can be hidden permanently in paintings and sculptures to prevent art theft, or inserted invisibly into cases to prevent jewelry theft. Thanks to discreet design, potential thieves are none the wiser. Although, as word gets out that there’s no clean getaway with precious one-of-a-kind assets of this nature, even the most determined racketeers pause for thought.
So how do these tiny trackers work, exactly? Costing only a tiny fraction of the value of the incredible creations they have been designed to protect, tracking devices work either using GPS location or long-range, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)—or a combination of the two. This tech innovation means that masterpieces can not only be tracked in realtime, but that collectors, museums, and gallery owners can establish user defined perimeters and set up automatic alerts, either to themselves or the police, if the art or jewelry in question crosses over their threshold. Clever tech indeed.
It’s Never Been Easier to Prevent Jewelry Theft and Art Theft—or Catch the Criminals at Large
This exciting evolution in the effort to prevent art theft and safeguard our most precious jewels is only a small part of a much larger expansion of protective possibility. Improved home security systems and the advent of INTERPOL’s Stolen Works of Art database are also contributing to shrinking the prospects of potential thieves.
Even the smartphones of criminals themselves are working against them, as geolocation data is pulled from images taken to sell art and jewelry online, and police or private investigators track them down when they thought they’d got away clean.
Are you doing all you can to prevent jewelry theft and art theft? Your most prized assets represent not only significant monetary value, but sentimental value too. Skilled and specialized private investigators from Lauth Investigations International are always on hand to provide comprehensive risk and security assessments. We can identify vulnerabilities and help you close the door to criminals who might otherwise target your possessions. And of course, should the worst have already occurred, our team of investigative trackers are ready to locate and return your items. Whatever your concerns, reach out to our team today for no-commitment insight into how we can assist.
Think the humble employee background check is an unnecessary expense? Think again. Because there’s nothing like a spate of bad hires to leave a gaping hole in the finances of your business. With research placing the average cost of a single bad recruitment choice anywhere from $17,000 to $240,000, every organization should have weeding out flaws in their HR department’s strategy high on the agenda.
Poor recruitment practices can be a drain on morale and company culture, wasting time and money and placing a heavy burden on the shoulders of those forced to take up the slack. So what can Human Resources do to mitigate this potential disaster? From background screening to watching for red flags, today we’ll dive into how your HR team can streamline their recruitment process and protect your bottom line
The Warning Signs of a Recruit You’ll Regret
A great candidate CV has landed on the desk of your top HR manager, and they’re excited at the prospect of having this individual on board. All the desired competencies and experiences appear to be in place, but there’s no escaping the fact that a CV can be doctored to hide a disastrous history or terrible work ethic.
In support of background screening—which we’ll come back to later—the interview process provides a key opportunity to observe candidates and be on the look out for obvious red flags such as showing up late or poor presentation, but you can leverage this time together even more effectively. Be sure to question candidates thoroughly on the contents of their credentials, experience record, and application to ensure that every detail adds up.
Make Sure the Right Cards Are on the Table
You’ve ensured that the job description posted fully reflects the position offered and that the candidate comprehends every aspect of the role. Now is the time to lay all the pertinent cards on the table, letting them know your expectations and making sure that you understand theirs.
This can include going over the standards that you require from employees—in terms of conduct, responsibilities, team engagement, and appearance—and ensuring that they intend to be with you for the long haul. Far too many employers invest substantially in new recruits, not realizing that they only view the position as a stepping stone. There can be no mincing words when ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
Turn to a Trusted Investigations Firm for Comprehensive Background Screening
Any savvy recruiter understands the importance of verifying references and credentials when hiring a new team member. Unfortunately, bad actors in the recruit pool may go to great lengths to deceive, faking vital certifications or enlisting the help of nefarious friends to provide false references.
Your HR team may do their best to conduct a thorough employee background check, but only a licenced investigative firm like Lauth Investigations International will be able to run your potential recruits against the same databases used by law enforcement agencies, or check storied histories that require gathering information across state lines.
When it comes to weeding out bad recruitment, anything less than comprehensive background checks carried out by licenced investigators is a risk that could mean trouble in the making. If you’d like to learn more about how we can support your business in its strides towards greater prosperity, contact our team today.
There are a broad range of personal investigations that might warrant the assistance of a skilled private investigator. From missing persons through to private thefts or even cheating spouses, suspicions lead trusted PIs to head out into the field every day to discreetly and diligently gather the facts.
Whatever the nature of the private investigations called for, two things are certain. The first is that the chosen investigator should be selected on the basis of their credentials. The second is that there isn’t a moment to lose. Time is of the essence, so let’s explore exactly what you need to know in order to kick-start a process that will lead to results.
Don’t Wait to take Action
Whether there’s a threat made to your person or property, or you suspect wrongdoing has already taken place, the sooner you set personal investigations in motion, the less likely it will be that vital clues or witnesses vanish and physical or digital trails go cold.
Happily, a reputable and recommended private investigations firm will be happy to provide commitment-free insight into things like whether action should be taken immediately and if you should contact law enforcement. As experts in navigating the full-spectrum of issues that private persons may be faced with, they will be able to highlight the best possible course, before guiding you on things like evidence preservation and contingency steps.
Choosing the Right Private Investigator
A solid recommendation from someone you know you can trust is a great place to start when selecting your collaborator, but don’t hesitate to confirm the credentials of any private investigations firm that you aim to contract. They should be able to demonstrate their track records and confirm their licencing without hesitation.
Opting for a large, long established firm is also a safer strategy than hiring a solo PI or a firm that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Beyond anything else, the critical licensure of your investigatory team will be what grants them access to the same databases used by law enforcement, so this is not an area in which to cut corners.
A Reputable Private Investigator Will Guide You Every Step of the Way
During your initial personal investigations consultation, the contracting PI will walk you through gathering all of the background information they need to get started and developing a working plan of attack. From there, they will be able to begin conducting any necessary surveillance or covert operations, gathering documented evidence and things like CCTV footage, conducting interviews, and building a body of data that will allow you to take action accordingly.
Once a conclusion has been drawn in your private investigations, you will be able to decide what remedial actions are necessary. At this juncture, a seasoned private investigator will be able to liaise with your legal council, respective authorities, and law enforcement on your behalf. They can also advise on how you can mitigate similar threats in the future.
Ultimately, the expertise of a reputable private investigator is a high-caliber resource that can be harnessed to protect your best interests in a diversity of different ways. If you’d like to learn more about how the Personal and Private Client Services provided by Lauth Investigations International, we are always happy to advise. With more than 30 years experience and more than 10,000 cases solved and solutions found, we have just the expertise you need for total peace of mind. Get in touch today.
As licenced private investigators specializing in jewelry and art theft investigations, we witness the fallout of jewelry and art theft first hand and all too often. Whether stolen from a private home or public setting, these types of precious assets often represent immense historic value, sentiment, and uniqueness that makes no dollar amount a satisfying substitute, making the crime one that cuts deep for targeted owners.
Framed by this reality, the unveiling of a brand new app from INTERPOL marks a positive step towards reducing the skyrocketing rates of both jewelry theft and art theft across the United States and around the globe. Let’s take a look at exactly what this cutting-edge technology has to offer concerned collectors everywhere.
Direct Access to INTERPOL’s Stolen Works of Art Database
INTERPOL’s Stolen Works of Art Database promises to change the game for those aiming to thwart criminals intent on art theft and jewelry theft. It does so by cataloging essential information for the identification of valued items, aiding in their identification and location. At time of writing, the database has already amassed data on more than 52,000 objects from 134 member countries—all in the name of mounting a combined response to safeguarding our common heritage.
This impressive resource has been designed for use by police officers, custom officials, the general public, private collectors, art dealers, journalists, students, and art enthusiasts. However, the innovation of this project lies not in the simple documentation of stolen valuables, but in a far more comprehensive range of functions. The key to unlocking this crime fighting potential comes with use of their groundbreaking ap, ID-Art.
Stamping Out Jewelry Theft and Art Theft with ID-Art
The free-to-use ID-Art mobile app not only allows users to check if an object is registered as stolen, but also to create and inventory their own art collections and report site thefts and threats in real time. Missing objects can be searched manually or visually, using diverse search parameters such as object type, medium, production technique, artist’s name, or country of provenance. These metrics are streamlined by INTERPOL’s standardized ‘Object-ID’ format.
Alternatively, users can upload an image of the asset in question to perform a visual search using ID-Art’s cutting-edge image recognition software. This attention to details means that those cataloging their collections on the app can enjoy peace of mind that the data is in place to make it difficult for criminals to move their most beloved property in the event of jewelry or art theft. This, in turn, will help to reduce illicit trafficking and deter would-be criminals from targeting one-of-a-kind objects in the first place.
Going Further to Prevent Art and Jewelry Theft
Seeking adequate insurance and cataloging your valuables can go a long way in the event of a theft, but what about prevention? Private investigators from Lauth Investigations International frequently turn their expertize in analyzing crime scenes to the art of security and risk assessment. If you are concerned that you may be vulnerable to art or jewelry theft, we can deliver a comprehensive assessment and tailored advice on the steps that you can take to ensure the safety of your prized valuables. Should the worst have occurred and your items are missing, our veteran private investigators are ready to jump out into the field and unearth their trail, in hot pursuit of recovery. No matter your art and jewelry related security concerns, the Lauth Investigations team is ready to provide essential support. Contact us to learn more, and download INTERPOLS ID-Art app free of charge for Apple and Android mobile devices, to add vital layers of protection in the safeguarding of your assets.
Have you ever had the feeling you were being watched? Perhaps the hairs on the back of your neck stood up, and you paused for a moment, before brushing the feeling aside. It was probably just paranoia—unless, of course, there was a reason why a private investigator might have been surveilling you as part of their infidelity investigations.
Cheating spouse investigations are one of the most common tasks involving the use of surveillance techniques and technologies undertaken by personal investigators. Although, these types of investigations can be mounted for all manner of other reasons, including over family law matters, suspected abuse or theft by domestic staff, or dishonest dealings within a workplace setting.
Today, we’re going to take a look at why cheating spouse investigations arise so often in the world of private investigators, as well as the kinds of technology and techniques that your trusted PI might use to get to the truth of the matter.
Is Your Spouse Being Disloyal?
If you can’t shake the feeling that your husband or wife is running around behind your back, there’s good reason to investigate further. The tough truth is that research suggests that 50-60% of married men and 45-55% of married women will veer into the realms of extramarital sex in their lifetimes, and these statistics don’t even cover non-traditional types of infidelity, such as those seeking out virtual erotic encounters.
Warning signs that might alert you to the possibility that you other half is doing the dirty include suspicious internet and phone use, changes to their appearance and bathing habits, a shift in work routine, and changes in your own intimate relationship—including, perhaps surprisingly, an increase in sexual interest. When red flags are appearing, some may feel comfortable confronting their spouse, but others prefer to confirm of disprove their worries covertly. This is where a private investigator can assist in discreetly gathering evidence that will close the matter once and for all.
What is Involved in Cheating Spouse Investigations?
Ahead of launching into infidelity investigations, a private investigator will meet their client in order to ascertain not only the suspected behavior in question, but also as much background information as possible, such as daily routine, habits, hobbies, and social connections. The full scope of this kind of investigative process can be very painful for the client, making discretion, delicacy, and compassion essential qualities in a PI handling cheating spouse investigations.
With background information gathered, the private investigator you hire will begin using surveillance techniques to observe your spouse and document their behavior. Once they have gathered enough evidence for you to be able to draw a solid conclusion, they will present their findings and you can decide how to proceed.
The Spectrum of Surveillance Technology
Surveillance can be an optimally effective way to yield the information that infidelity investigations—and indeed countless other investigation types—call to uncover. However, it is essential to work with a fully licensed and reputable private investigations firm, because the legality of surveillance is complex, and the letter of the law must always be followed. The right investigative experts will know the specifics of each state’s unique legal requirements, allowing them to choose the surveillance options that will safeguard the client’s interests rather than landing them in hot water.
Technologies harnessed by private investigators include so-called nanny cams, which are so small that they can be easily concealed in the home or workplace without occupants being any the wiser. Hidden cameras can also be worn on the body, and even built into smart glasses, making video surveillance easier than ever. Other technologies that may be enlisted include recording devices and GPS tracking devices, however, once again, respective legislation must always be adhered to. A personal investigator may also surveil behavior online and physically observe the suspect’s actions to better understand the facts.
