PI News Round-up - March 26, 2009

PInow.com Weekly News Round-up

March 26, 2009

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This week, the PInow.com staff was interested in these industry news stories:

PIs Found Proof in $100 Million Divorce
NEW YORK, NY - An expensive and headline grabbing divorce between Swedish countess Marie Douglas-David and her husband, business mogul George David, began with PIs. PIs uncovered that Douglas-David was having an affair with a fencer, prompting David to file for divorce. He has filed for divorce four times; however, the first three times he filed for divorce he allowed the filing to lapse.
	Read full article and comment	Source: The Insider, March 24, 2009

Fraud Investigator Jobs Abundant

During Rough Economic Time PI Skills Prevail

NEW YORK, NY - According to the New York Times PIs with experience in fraud investigation are in high demand right now, even while job prospects in other industries appear slim. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of open mortgage-fraud investigations has more than doubled in the last two years. Fraud investigations, corporate fraud investigations and other fraud cases are all increasing in the current economy. The FBI, PI firms and security consulting firms are, in many cases, recruiting investigation professionals to help them with the increasing case loads.
Share with us: Have you noticed an abundance of fraud investigation jobs available?

Woman Hires PIs, Handcuffs Herself to Husband
FAIRFIELD, CT - Helen Sun and Robert Drawbaugh had been married for about eight years, when Drawbaugh claimed that Sun's violent and obsessive behavior created problems for himself and his family. At one point, Drawbaugh alleges, Sun hired PIs to have him followed. Apparently, PIs were not enough for her. This week, Sun made headlines when she broke into Drawbaugh's bedroom while he slept, handcuffed herself to him, and bit him repeatedly in the arms and torso while he dialed 911 to get help.
	Read full article and comment	Source: The Associated Press, March 24, 2009

Investigators Can Legally Sift Through Residential Garbage
LAYTON, UT - In 2005, the city of Layton passed an ordinance to ban dumpster diving by citing concerns over identity theft. Shawn Kane, President of the Private Investigators Association of Utah, says that's not an issue with licensed investigators who are actually registered with the Department of Public Safety. Now, licensed private investigators can legally sift through residential garbage in Layton as long as they do not violate trespassing laws.
	Read full article and comment	Source: KSL News Radio, March 23, 2009

PIs Trying to Find Nazis
LONDON, ENGLAND - PIs and the Office of Special Investigations have thousands of Nazi suspects under investigation. Authorities now fear that the clock is ticking and many Nazis who have not been apprehended will elude justice. As former Nazis get older, more will die without facing a trial for their crimes.
	Read full article and comment	Source: BBC, March 23, 2009

GPS and Police – Court Hears Arguments
ALBANY, NY - Federal judges with New York's Court of Appeals recently heard arguments about the use of GPS devices for police officers. At the heart of the case is whether police should be allowed to hide the devices without attaining a court warrant. Attorneys allege that using a GPS device on a car is similar to watching a vehicle, which does not require a search warrant. It is unknown how the ruling might influence the rights of PIs to use GPS devices.
	Read full article and comment	Source: Newsday, March 24, 2009

Product of the Week

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder

At 40 percent smaller than its already pocket-sized brother the Flip Ultra, the Flip Mino is perfect for an investigator who is on the go. The small size doesn’t mean it is short on function. The Flip Mino features a simple user interface, one touch recording, built-in USB, intuitive editing software and easy sharing functionality.
Specifications:

Pocket-sized camcorder; Flat back panel with touch-sensitive buttons; 1.5-inch color LCD screen.

2 GB of on-board flash memory — records up to 60 minutes of video; 2x digital zoom.

Internal Lithium-ion battery recharges when built-in USB arm is connected to a computer.

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