Morrow Detective Agency works a wide range of cases, some of those cases delve into the infidelity spectrum. A lot of my clients know who the individual is that their significant other is seeing. They just require the proof and sometimes even the camaraderie of not being alone while dealing with this painful exhibit of betrayal.
A client calls our offices and advises that he believes that his wife may be cheating on him. He knows who the guy is, and believes that the guy will be flying in from New York for a few days. The clients wife has been acting distant and has mentioned that she will be going out of town to sort some things through, she assures the client that she has no intention of meeting or seeing this guy. We start our investigation and observe the woman go to Los Angeles Airport, she waits and is eventually greeted by an unidentified male who fits the description and resemblance of a photograph of our guy from New York. The guy places his luggage in the back of the car and enters and they depart the area. The couple is followed to a nice hotel in the Santa Monica area. They have their vehicle parked by the valet and our investigator follows them into the hotel. They check in and we still do not see any public affection. They enter into their room and our investigator waits down stairs in the lobby area. About an hour and a half later both parties come down, they look fresh and are dressed nicely, they enter into the restaurant area of the hotel and position themselves in an area where they are very much by themselves. The couple are observed sitting closely and holding hands, an intimacy has started occurring. Our investigator decides that it is worth overstepping in order to record this moment. A photograph is obtained. After about another hour and a half the couple go upstairs. We end our surveillance as there is nothing further that we can observe, we did however learn how much the couple paid for their meal and also were able to take a photo of a receipt to prove that the clients wife had in fact been there and had also paid for the meal. On the way out we took photos of the wife's vehicle to show that she was in fact staying overnight at the hotel. We even clarified with the front desk that a reservation for three days had been made.
Our client confronts his wife with the information that was obtained. She immediately apologizes and confesses. Our client is happy because his wife has now acknowledged her wrong doing and has resolved to fix their issues. Infidelity can make a person feel inadequate, paranoid, alone, and depressed. The person that is being cheated on may be berated by the unfaithful party for having suspicions and feeling the way that they do. They often are told that they are crazy, jealous, or controlling. Our client adopted the trust but verify policy when he called us. He hoped that his hiring us would not be fruitful, but he trusted his gut and moved forward. Unfortunately his gut proved to be correct. If you are going through this know that you are not alone, there are people out there that can help you. Just give us a call.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Sexual Harassment
Imagine being a young lady, your going to school but like most kids struggling between hitting the books and keeping food in your refrigerator. You take a part time job and try to make friends and keep your social life an active one. All of this sounds like the norm right?
A few years ago I received a case that involved just that as stated above, however this young lady began alleging that one of her supervisors was coming on to her quite strongly. According to the young lady she was a waitress in a restaurant at a popular resort she attended a University in the area and was trying to make ends meet. This young lady we will call her Jane was an attractive young woman, outgoing, friendly, and a little naive to how the world works, but she was nineteen and that is to be expected. Jane was a good worker who often worked whatever extra hours she could grab in between her studies. After a few weeks Jane was going out with her other co-workers to clubs and parties. One of Jane's bosses who we will call David started taking notice to Jane, at first Dave would stop by during the off hours to see how Jane was doing, one of these times Dave asked Jane if she would like to go to a local club that a band was playing at. Jane said yes. Jane shows up at the club thinking that other co-workers were going to be attending this event, but was surprised when Dave advised that she was the only one. Jane did not think anything of the situation and decided to have a good time. As time progressed in the evening Dave had a little to much to drink and stated that he felt Jane was beautiful and he wanted to get to know her better. Jane taking into consideration that Dave was drunk dismissed his attempts of affection.
The following week Dave did not speak with Jane that much until the following Friday. Jane starts receiving text messages from Dave asking if she would like to go out to another club with himself and some other co-workers, Jane stated that she would. Jane shows up and again notices that there are no other co-workers at this particular event. Jane not wanting a repeat of last time makes up an excuse and leaves. Dave texts her later on in the evening asking why she left and and can she come over the next day. Jane ignores the texts. The following Monday Jane is called into Dave's office. Dave tells her that her level of productivity is not where it should be and that she is receiving a warning. Jane was surprised as she had never received any complaints or had any issues in the past while working for the company. Jane feels that she has gotten the wrong end of the stick and complains to Dave's manager. Dave's manager as it turns out is good friends with Dave and he takes Dave's side. Dave proceeds to make Jane's working life a living hell. He starts giving her tasks that are not in her job description, he demands that she stay later in order to get the tasks done. He switches her schedule around so that now it is affecting her school work. A few months and Jane is failing her classes and files for a leave of absence. Jane hires an attorney and the attorney gets in contact with the owner of this company. The owner after finding all of this out hires an investigator and I happen to the be investigator that picks up the case. I interview Jane first in a secluded area at the employers. Jane recounts what had happened but adds some new text messages and phone calls that Dave has made since her leaving the company. In the middle of interviewing Jane, Dave walks into the room, see's her and I, and then walks out. I notice Jane start shivering and becoming despondent. I ask her if she is ok and she nods yes. She states he has been harassing me to the point where I can't sleep, I can't eat, and I have had to withdraw myself from school. I assure Jane that we will substantiate what she has stated has happened, I have her email me the text messages and I record the voice mail messages with the date and time announced.
I next interview Dave's manager who pretty much states that he did not know about a sexual harassment issue until Jane had filed for a leave of absence, that Jane had been a great worker but a couple of months before she filed her work product and activity started diminishing. The manager advises that there is a strict fraternization policy and the managers and employees are not supposed to hang out outside of work and work activities. I interview a bartender at the place of employment who states that he knows for a fact that Jane had complained to the manager prior to the managers recollection because he had went with her to complain due to her being nervous and afraid, he even shows a text that he had with Jane while she waited in the managers office, that text is dated and he emails it over to me. I speak with another employee who had little to offer in regards to the sexual harassment claim but learned that Dave and his manager were really good friends and that Dave was the Godfather of the managers son.
Finally I interview Dave. Dave states that he has not contacted Jane outside of work for anything that was not work related. That Jane has come to work smelling of alcohol and has been doing substandard work. I ask Dave for his employee evaluations for the whole time that Jane has worked at the employer and I note that he had given her rave reviews until about the time that she started accusing him of overstepping his managerial duties. I then play the voice mails that he left for Jane asking for her to come back to work so he can see her pretty face, and how much he missed seeing her walk by his office. I show him the text messages and confirm that his telephone number is the one that sent them saying how lonely he was at night and needing her body next to him to help keep him warm. Dave starts to pale, he then starts to tell his version of the truth. That Jane was hitting on him and he was reciprocating, that he did find he attractive and did not want to get into trouble as he was married and did not want his wife to find out that he and Jane were interested in each other. I asked him why would he continue to contact her when clearly text messages showed that she was not responding. Dave had no reply. I asked him why would he leave voicemail messages for her at 12:00 a.m. and did he have any text messages or voicemails to substantiate his claims. He did not. Dave than did something that has only happened two other times in my career. He breaks down and apologizes for all that he has done. He acknowledges that Jane was telling the truth and that he felt that her kindness towards him was romantic interest. I thanked Dave for his candor and concluded the interview. Dave's best friend asks to see me before I leave their facility. He asked me what I uncovered in my investigation. I tell him. As I tell him I see him get smaller and smaller in his seat. When I tell him that I know that he and Dave have an out of work relationship and that there is confirmation that Jane had complained well before her leave of absence, the manager asks me for my tapes. I tell him that the tapes go straight to the office, copies will be made and the owner will get them.
About two months later I received a call from Jane. Jane tells me that the owner called her and apologized, that he offered to reimburse her for all of her losses and wanted to make her suffering whole. Dave and his manager buddy were no longer working with the company and the company also decided to give Jane a grant for her school funding. This wont erase the embarrassment, the pain, or the humiliation that Jane suffered. But it can help Jane to feel better about the company and do something bigger than that which was afflicted upon her.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
A few years ago I received a case that involved just that as stated above, however this young lady began alleging that one of her supervisors was coming on to her quite strongly. According to the young lady she was a waitress in a restaurant at a popular resort she attended a University in the area and was trying to make ends meet. This young lady we will call her Jane was an attractive young woman, outgoing, friendly, and a little naive to how the world works, but she was nineteen and that is to be expected. Jane was a good worker who often worked whatever extra hours she could grab in between her studies. After a few weeks Jane was going out with her other co-workers to clubs and parties. One of Jane's bosses who we will call David started taking notice to Jane, at first Dave would stop by during the off hours to see how Jane was doing, one of these times Dave asked Jane if she would like to go to a local club that a band was playing at. Jane said yes. Jane shows up at the club thinking that other co-workers were going to be attending this event, but was surprised when Dave advised that she was the only one. Jane did not think anything of the situation and decided to have a good time. As time progressed in the evening Dave had a little to much to drink and stated that he felt Jane was beautiful and he wanted to get to know her better. Jane taking into consideration that Dave was drunk dismissed his attempts of affection.
The following week Dave did not speak with Jane that much until the following Friday. Jane starts receiving text messages from Dave asking if she would like to go out to another club with himself and some other co-workers, Jane stated that she would. Jane shows up and again notices that there are no other co-workers at this particular event. Jane not wanting a repeat of last time makes up an excuse and leaves. Dave texts her later on in the evening asking why she left and and can she come over the next day. Jane ignores the texts. The following Monday Jane is called into Dave's office. Dave tells her that her level of productivity is not where it should be and that she is receiving a warning. Jane was surprised as she had never received any complaints or had any issues in the past while working for the company. Jane feels that she has gotten the wrong end of the stick and complains to Dave's manager. Dave's manager as it turns out is good friends with Dave and he takes Dave's side. Dave proceeds to make Jane's working life a living hell. He starts giving her tasks that are not in her job description, he demands that she stay later in order to get the tasks done. He switches her schedule around so that now it is affecting her school work. A few months and Jane is failing her classes and files for a leave of absence. Jane hires an attorney and the attorney gets in contact with the owner of this company. The owner after finding all of this out hires an investigator and I happen to the be investigator that picks up the case. I interview Jane first in a secluded area at the employers. Jane recounts what had happened but adds some new text messages and phone calls that Dave has made since her leaving the company. In the middle of interviewing Jane, Dave walks into the room, see's her and I, and then walks out. I notice Jane start shivering and becoming despondent. I ask her if she is ok and she nods yes. She states he has been harassing me to the point where I can't sleep, I can't eat, and I have had to withdraw myself from school. I assure Jane that we will substantiate what she has stated has happened, I have her email me the text messages and I record the voice mail messages with the date and time announced.
I next interview Dave's manager who pretty much states that he did not know about a sexual harassment issue until Jane had filed for a leave of absence, that Jane had been a great worker but a couple of months before she filed her work product and activity started diminishing. The manager advises that there is a strict fraternization policy and the managers and employees are not supposed to hang out outside of work and work activities. I interview a bartender at the place of employment who states that he knows for a fact that Jane had complained to the manager prior to the managers recollection because he had went with her to complain due to her being nervous and afraid, he even shows a text that he had with Jane while she waited in the managers office, that text is dated and he emails it over to me. I speak with another employee who had little to offer in regards to the sexual harassment claim but learned that Dave and his manager were really good friends and that Dave was the Godfather of the managers son.
Finally I interview Dave. Dave states that he has not contacted Jane outside of work for anything that was not work related. That Jane has come to work smelling of alcohol and has been doing substandard work. I ask Dave for his employee evaluations for the whole time that Jane has worked at the employer and I note that he had given her rave reviews until about the time that she started accusing him of overstepping his managerial duties. I then play the voice mails that he left for Jane asking for her to come back to work so he can see her pretty face, and how much he missed seeing her walk by his office. I show him the text messages and confirm that his telephone number is the one that sent them saying how lonely he was at night and needing her body next to him to help keep him warm. Dave starts to pale, he then starts to tell his version of the truth. That Jane was hitting on him and he was reciprocating, that he did find he attractive and did not want to get into trouble as he was married and did not want his wife to find out that he and Jane were interested in each other. I asked him why would he continue to contact her when clearly text messages showed that she was not responding. Dave had no reply. I asked him why would he leave voicemail messages for her at 12:00 a.m. and did he have any text messages or voicemails to substantiate his claims. He did not. Dave than did something that has only happened two other times in my career. He breaks down and apologizes for all that he has done. He acknowledges that Jane was telling the truth and that he felt that her kindness towards him was romantic interest. I thanked Dave for his candor and concluded the interview. Dave's best friend asks to see me before I leave their facility. He asked me what I uncovered in my investigation. I tell him. As I tell him I see him get smaller and smaller in his seat. When I tell him that I know that he and Dave have an out of work relationship and that there is confirmation that Jane had complained well before her leave of absence, the manager asks me for my tapes. I tell him that the tapes go straight to the office, copies will be made and the owner will get them.
About two months later I received a call from Jane. Jane tells me that the owner called her and apologized, that he offered to reimburse her for all of her losses and wanted to make her suffering whole. Dave and his manager buddy were no longer working with the company and the company also decided to give Jane a grant for her school funding. This wont erase the embarrassment, the pain, or the humiliation that Jane suffered. But it can help Jane to feel better about the company and do something bigger than that which was afflicted upon her.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Stealing in the name of the Lord
These are hard times, and often enough some of us cling to our religions to seek spiritual fulfillment and guidance. Because of the feeling of community and in some religions the teachings of giving some people easily fall pray to the vultures that are out there waiting for them. Below is a case that illustrates how some can be preyed upon and what they could have done to prevent it.
One Thursday afternoon our offices received a call from an attorney that we occasionally do some work for. The attorney has a client that is in dire need of locating someone that has conned and swindled them out of thousands of dollars. Our investigator Steve Morrow called the clients and made arrangements to meet with them at their residence the following morning. The following morning our investigator met with the two clients they were both elderly and heavily involved with their church. The clients explain that they had recently come into some money and a minister that was visiting their church had started speaking to them about investing into a recording project that he was working on. The minister advised our clients that the project would bring in several million dollars and that they would receive not only their investment back, but also 2% of the returns for the sales and cd royalties from the project.The minister further made things appealing by stating that our clients church would also benefit from this transactions with new vans that would be purchased and donated to the church in honor of our clients. Our clients mulled the idea over and finally relented and made a deal.
The minister and a business associate met with our clients at our clients bank, our clients asked the minister how the check should be addressed and the minister stated in their name. Our client acquiesced to their request and received a cashiers check from their bank, the minister cashed the check and gave half of the money over to his associate. At first the minister kept in touch with my clients, calling them and even visiting their church. But soon other people started asking questions about the project, the minister would make an excuse and eventually stopped receiving calls and going to the church altogether.
A few months later the client gets in touch with an attorney, and the attorney had the clients call us. Our investigator immediately called the minister in an effort to see whether the minister was still using the same con. Utilizing a suitable pretext, the minister began to try and sell our investigator on the same exact scam that he did with our clients, our clients who were hearing the conversation over speaker phone listened. Our client even wrote down questions that they wanted answers to, the minister answered their questions which would help them secure more evidence to present to the judge. After 20 minutes of trying to con our investigator, our investigator exited the conversation with the probability of a call back. The only difference in the conversation between the minister and our investigator was the buy in price, the minister was asking our investigator for $20,000. At this point our investigator advises the client as to what needs to be done and we start working on our case.
Approximately three weeks later our offices have located the minister, we have also located other cases that the minister has been involved in. Now we are standing outside of the ministers door ready with some legal documents that will be needed in order to initiate a law suit against the minister. We knock on the door and an elderly woman about 80 plus answers the door, she advises that she is the ministers mother and that the minister is not in at the moment but will be coming back home later to take her to the doctors office, not wanting to press the issue and now confirming where the minister resides, our investigator decides to wait until the one day where most ministers in this religion do their work, Sunday. The following Sunday morning our investigator arrives at the ministers residence, the sun has not come out yet, but knowing that this is church day we did not want to risk losing the minister. At approximately 7:30 our investigator approaches the ministers residence and hears gospel music being played loudly from the inside of the residence. Our investigator knocks on the door, the door creaks open and the older lady from our previous attempt is observed through the crack of the door, suspicion immediately shows in her face and our investigator explains that we need to speak with the minister, she advises that the minister is asleep right now. At this time we have tried to sit and wait a few times, we advise that the minister is being sued and that we have paperwork for him, the mother gets really upset and yells that she is not accepting the paperwork, at this time our investigator had obtained photographs of the lady and respectfully placed the papers on the doorstep and took photographs of them.
On the way back to our offices our investigators phone rings, our client calls and says that the minister has been calling all morning and has left several messages. Our client asks us what should be done, we advise that the client should tell the minister to pay up, that all that is done in the dark will come to light and until the minister gives a full refund. Our client made several mistakes in this case, had they run a background investigation they would have found that this minister has committed these type of crimes in the past. Also they should never have issued the minister a check in the ministers name, the minister stated that they represent an organization, our clients should have addressed the check to the organization. Our client should have made more of an effort to know exactly how the ministers business was run, where it was located, who worked for the business, and also obtained weekly reports on the project. Our client just felt that since this was a minister and was a purported person of God, they should automatically be believed, unfortunately they learned that this minister was stealing from the Lord.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
One Thursday afternoon our offices received a call from an attorney that we occasionally do some work for. The attorney has a client that is in dire need of locating someone that has conned and swindled them out of thousands of dollars. Our investigator Steve Morrow called the clients and made arrangements to meet with them at their residence the following morning. The following morning our investigator met with the two clients they were both elderly and heavily involved with their church. The clients explain that they had recently come into some money and a minister that was visiting their church had started speaking to them about investing into a recording project that he was working on. The minister advised our clients that the project would bring in several million dollars and that they would receive not only their investment back, but also 2% of the returns for the sales and cd royalties from the project.The minister further made things appealing by stating that our clients church would also benefit from this transactions with new vans that would be purchased and donated to the church in honor of our clients. Our clients mulled the idea over and finally relented and made a deal.
The minister and a business associate met with our clients at our clients bank, our clients asked the minister how the check should be addressed and the minister stated in their name. Our client acquiesced to their request and received a cashiers check from their bank, the minister cashed the check and gave half of the money over to his associate. At first the minister kept in touch with my clients, calling them and even visiting their church. But soon other people started asking questions about the project, the minister would make an excuse and eventually stopped receiving calls and going to the church altogether.
A few months later the client gets in touch with an attorney, and the attorney had the clients call us. Our investigator immediately called the minister in an effort to see whether the minister was still using the same con. Utilizing a suitable pretext, the minister began to try and sell our investigator on the same exact scam that he did with our clients, our clients who were hearing the conversation over speaker phone listened. Our client even wrote down questions that they wanted answers to, the minister answered their questions which would help them secure more evidence to present to the judge. After 20 minutes of trying to con our investigator, our investigator exited the conversation with the probability of a call back. The only difference in the conversation between the minister and our investigator was the buy in price, the minister was asking our investigator for $20,000. At this point our investigator advises the client as to what needs to be done and we start working on our case.
Approximately three weeks later our offices have located the minister, we have also located other cases that the minister has been involved in. Now we are standing outside of the ministers door ready with some legal documents that will be needed in order to initiate a law suit against the minister. We knock on the door and an elderly woman about 80 plus answers the door, she advises that she is the ministers mother and that the minister is not in at the moment but will be coming back home later to take her to the doctors office, not wanting to press the issue and now confirming where the minister resides, our investigator decides to wait until the one day where most ministers in this religion do their work, Sunday. The following Sunday morning our investigator arrives at the ministers residence, the sun has not come out yet, but knowing that this is church day we did not want to risk losing the minister. At approximately 7:30 our investigator approaches the ministers residence and hears gospel music being played loudly from the inside of the residence. Our investigator knocks on the door, the door creaks open and the older lady from our previous attempt is observed through the crack of the door, suspicion immediately shows in her face and our investigator explains that we need to speak with the minister, she advises that the minister is asleep right now. At this time we have tried to sit and wait a few times, we advise that the minister is being sued and that we have paperwork for him, the mother gets really upset and yells that she is not accepting the paperwork, at this time our investigator had obtained photographs of the lady and respectfully placed the papers on the doorstep and took photographs of them.
On the way back to our offices our investigators phone rings, our client calls and says that the minister has been calling all morning and has left several messages. Our client asks us what should be done, we advise that the client should tell the minister to pay up, that all that is done in the dark will come to light and until the minister gives a full refund. Our client made several mistakes in this case, had they run a background investigation they would have found that this minister has committed these type of crimes in the past. Also they should never have issued the minister a check in the ministers name, the minister stated that they represent an organization, our clients should have addressed the check to the organization. Our client should have made more of an effort to know exactly how the ministers business was run, where it was located, who worked for the business, and also obtained weekly reports on the project. Our client just felt that since this was a minister and was a purported person of God, they should automatically be believed, unfortunately they learned that this minister was stealing from the Lord.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Reflections 2014
Being a private investigator is one of the professions where what you do or don't do matters. This year Morrow Detective Agency has reunited four families, kept one person from going to jail for a crime that they did not commit, exposed multiple insurance fraudsters, and caught some cheating spouses. The hundreds of cases that we have worked this year have largely been successful. But it is the cases that we have not been able to resolve that stick in our minds.
For instance a man was adopted out as a baby, he is now in his fifties, has some information about his mother, this man does not have the means to pay for our services, so our company wanting to give back to the community at large, decided to take on this case at no charge (we accept three cases a year that we do not charge for). We search for this man's Mother, call hundreds of women sharing his mothers first and middle name. We contact attorneys, we search public records, we bang on the wall, bang some more, and unfortunately find that we do not have the tools to take the wall down-at least not right now. We never truly stop working on these cases, right now as we speak, it sits on my desk positioned in a way that it stares at me and lets me know that we haven't looked everywhere because if we had we would have found her. In addition to this case for this individual we do find a family member, but that family member unfortunately does not want to have anything to do with the client. The case is not hopeless, it just needs time and some more work.
However if you only dwell on your failings, you can go crazy. On Christmas day a client that we reunited with her father sent me photos of herself and her father, she also sent photos of her Uncles, and her Aunts. The smile on her face makes the whole year a success for us. The emails that we received from clients thanking us for our extra efforts and stating that because of what we did they were able to get a successful conclusion on their end, reminds us that what we do matters. The young man that is walking free after being accused for a crime that he did not commit embracing his freedom and the opportunity to be able to spend time with his family a and friends reminds us that our families are important, they are the ones that will stick with you when every one else turns around and runs. The wife who got what she needed from our agency in order to proceed forward and divorce her husband that was cheating on her, reminds us that even in the darkest of situations there is still hope and good things can come from the bad.
So here is hoping that 2015 will be bigger, better, and more challenging than 2014, that all of us are reminded of the things that matter most to us. That we all have the tools needed in order to break down whatever walls are holding us back. We at Morrow Detective Agency would like to say thank you to our clients, to our friends that have been following us on Facebook, on Twitter, and reading our blog. Thank you to everyone that has referred us over to someone that did not think that they could get the answers they needed. You all's esteem in us is what has helped us help others. Thank you all and may 2015 be healthy and prosperous for you!
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
For instance a man was adopted out as a baby, he is now in his fifties, has some information about his mother, this man does not have the means to pay for our services, so our company wanting to give back to the community at large, decided to take on this case at no charge (we accept three cases a year that we do not charge for). We search for this man's Mother, call hundreds of women sharing his mothers first and middle name. We contact attorneys, we search public records, we bang on the wall, bang some more, and unfortunately find that we do not have the tools to take the wall down-at least not right now. We never truly stop working on these cases, right now as we speak, it sits on my desk positioned in a way that it stares at me and lets me know that we haven't looked everywhere because if we had we would have found her. In addition to this case for this individual we do find a family member, but that family member unfortunately does not want to have anything to do with the client. The case is not hopeless, it just needs time and some more work.
However if you only dwell on your failings, you can go crazy. On Christmas day a client that we reunited with her father sent me photos of herself and her father, she also sent photos of her Uncles, and her Aunts. The smile on her face makes the whole year a success for us. The emails that we received from clients thanking us for our extra efforts and stating that because of what we did they were able to get a successful conclusion on their end, reminds us that what we do matters. The young man that is walking free after being accused for a crime that he did not commit embracing his freedom and the opportunity to be able to spend time with his family a and friends reminds us that our families are important, they are the ones that will stick with you when every one else turns around and runs. The wife who got what she needed from our agency in order to proceed forward and divorce her husband that was cheating on her, reminds us that even in the darkest of situations there is still hope and good things can come from the bad.
So here is hoping that 2015 will be bigger, better, and more challenging than 2014, that all of us are reminded of the things that matter most to us. That we all have the tools needed in order to break down whatever walls are holding us back. We at Morrow Detective Agency would like to say thank you to our clients, to our friends that have been following us on Facebook, on Twitter, and reading our blog. Thank you to everyone that has referred us over to someone that did not think that they could get the answers they needed. You all's esteem in us is what has helped us help others. Thank you all and may 2015 be healthy and prosperous for you!
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
If at first you don't succeed.
Detective work is full of trial and error. I once spoke with an investigator by the name of Josiah Tink Thompson, he told me that detective work is also full of luck, his parting statement to me was I hope that you are lucky. My experience has shown that it definitely is a blend of the two. Case and point. Our agency was hired to conduct surveillance on a particular subject in an effort to prove that this subject was utilizing a vehicle they were not supposed to be using, and also working when they stated that they are not. The first day of surveillance we get there at an appropriate time and we sit and wait. About an hour after our arrival our subject departs, we give the subject some time to move into traffic and then join into the flow of the morning transportation. The first fifteen minutes of the surveillance went as planned, but suddenly our subject gets off of the freeway, travels onto the surface streets and makes a crazy U turn, in our experience the subject is getting hinky. We let the subject go not wanting to add onto the subjects paranoia. We call our client and advise of what happened. Our client later reports to us that the subject called and stated that someone in the family was attempting to follow the subject. Apparently the person in the family drove the same type of vehicle as our subject and our subject knows that this person is watching them. Our client laughed as the they knew that the investigator and the relative did not resemble each other in the slightest way. We advised a cooling down period and we would attempt at a different time.
Two weeks later our investigation continues. We get at the surveillance location in the early morning, we wait, and wait, and wait, but no movement from the subject. We decide to go out again, and we wait, and wait, and finally there is some movement by the subject. The subject gets onto the freeway and our investigator followed. Anyone that lives in California is familiar with the 405 and the horrible traffic that it has. Our subject was on the 405 and now the words I hope your lucky took a definitive meaning. Our subject drove like a person on a mission, weaving in and out of lanes with only minimal space to merge, the subject caused cars to slam on brakes, horns to blare, and hand gestures of all kinds to come out of windows. Our investigator followed the subject for approximately thirty minutes before exiting the freeway. The subject travels at a decent pace on the surface streets and finally lands at a building, the subject parks in the lot. Our investigator gives the subject a moment to get together, our investigator was able to take some photos of the subject exiting the vehicle, and we were also able to show that the vehicle the subject was using was not the one that they were supposed to be using. The subject entered into their work place without giving our investigator a second look.
We have said it in the past and we will say it again here, persistence and patience will win out nine out of ten times. Trying to make things happen in case can cause the case to fall apart instead of working the case in its own pace. Now our client will be able to utilize the evidence to prove that this person is lying and is doing things that they should not be doing.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Two weeks later our investigation continues. We get at the surveillance location in the early morning, we wait, and wait, and wait, but no movement from the subject. We decide to go out again, and we wait, and wait, and finally there is some movement by the subject. The subject gets onto the freeway and our investigator followed. Anyone that lives in California is familiar with the 405 and the horrible traffic that it has. Our subject was on the 405 and now the words I hope your lucky took a definitive meaning. Our subject drove like a person on a mission, weaving in and out of lanes with only minimal space to merge, the subject caused cars to slam on brakes, horns to blare, and hand gestures of all kinds to come out of windows. Our investigator followed the subject for approximately thirty minutes before exiting the freeway. The subject travels at a decent pace on the surface streets and finally lands at a building, the subject parks in the lot. Our investigator gives the subject a moment to get together, our investigator was able to take some photos of the subject exiting the vehicle, and we were also able to show that the vehicle the subject was using was not the one that they were supposed to be using. The subject entered into their work place without giving our investigator a second look.
We have said it in the past and we will say it again here, persistence and patience will win out nine out of ten times. Trying to make things happen in case can cause the case to fall apart instead of working the case in its own pace. Now our client will be able to utilize the evidence to prove that this person is lying and is doing things that they should not be doing.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Friday, November 21, 2014
There is no traffic on the extra mile
A lot people want the quick result. They want the no effort win. But to truly succeed and do something well, you have to be willing to put in the extra effort. Your going to have to go the extra mile.
Our offices were contacted in order to serve papers on a subject that had seemed elusive. The other party that attempted service stated that they were unsuccessful after numerous attempts. They tried the subjects residence but found it to be vacated, they tried the subjects office but found that it was never open. They gave up after that. Our offices often get the services that other's have given up on. When I first started working on the file, I started at the beginning. Day one I verified that the house had been vacated, I spoke with neighbors and they sad that the family may have moved to Glendale. Day two I went to the subjects place of business and I found that it was not open. There was no one around but since I had started early I figured that I could get some lunch and come back. I went to Shakey's pizza ( I love mojo potatoes) ate and went back to the office. The office was still closed but there were other offices surrounding the subjects. One person was exiting his office, I approached him and asked for the subject by name. The man advised that the subject had moved his office upstairs, he gave me the unit number. I go to the office and note that a man is sitting at his desk, I ask for my subject by name, the man confirms that he is my subject I give him the paperwork. Case closed. This situation could have been resolved had the previous servers asked the neighbors, asked the fellow business owners. But more often than not, some don't.
Another example of this, in my earlier P.I. days I had to track some witnesses down for a case, the case regarded a man that was being accused of molesting some children. One potential witness in particular was extremely difficult to locate. I started calling, no answer, I sent emails, no answer, I went to his home, no response. Now here is the brick wall, it is reasonable and probably rational to give it up here. But that is not what I do, I did not get into this work to do something easy. So the answer was the obvious one, though not the most exciting. I waited outside the witnesses house for 7 hours before he came home. The witness was surprised to see me but did give me a statement, a statement that changed the pace and setting of the case.
So there you have it, perseverance, not giving up, being persistent. Doing the extra will get you results. You may not win all of the time, but don't let the reason why you lose be because you did not put in all of the necessary and sometimes the unnecessary efforts.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
A father that never forgot and a daughter that never quit
When I was a kid, I wanted to become a private investigator. I read the mystery stories of Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Phillip Marlow, and Easy Rawlins. I liked how the protagonists in these stories were able to affect the world around them. As I grew up and started doing this work in real life, I learned that even though the stories I read sensationalized the world of the Private Investigator, I too could help to change the world around me, even if it is just a small part of it.
Morrow Detective Agency got a call from a client, a young lady that was interested in locating her father. The young lady through unfortunate circumstances was placed in the foster care system as a young girl and though she grew up healthy, seemingly happy, and loved, she felt that a piece of her was missing. The client through her own intelligence and diligence was able to find her mother, but she was unable to locate her father. The client needed the help of Morrow Detective Agency to become closer to being whole again. The client's mother was young and unfortunately did not have that much information about the clients father. She only had a name and a time frame of certain events, and of course the rumors that you hear over the years. I started this search by going through the traditional databases that investigators have access to but had no luck. I called every phone number for every potential subject but none of these men turned out to be my clients father.
So after hitting this brick wall I did what every investigator has to do, I started again from the beginning. I searched court documents and finally found one this one contained an alias for my clients father. I plugged in the alias but found nothing in the databases...feeling undeterred I continued. The clients mother had heard something about the clients father moving to Washington state. I searched social media sites and bingo I found a man that resembled my client. He had the same nose, eyes, and mouth. This gentleman had not been on his sites since 2012 but fortunately had left his friends list open. After searching through the list we were able to locate some relatives. The traditional databases allowed for us to contact these relatives by telephone. An associate Gabby Kelpe was able to translate and effectively get through to the clients family that we were not trying to trick them. Also it helped that one family member relayed a story to us. Back in the mid 2000's the clients father tried to find his little girl, he through his own search was able to locate a foster parent but my client had already been adopted. The foster family was able to later get in touch with my client and tell her this story. Now all of the pieces of the puzzle connected. We provided our clients phone number to the family who said that they will do everything they can to get in touch with the clients father, he moved out of the country.
Three days later our offices receive a call from our client, she has spoken to her father who is residing out of the country. The clients father told her that he was pleased that she was able to locate him, that he thought about her often, never forgot her, and always loved her. The client and her father exchanged messages of joys, intentions of getting together and hopefully building a bond that will never break again.
I guess some of the stories I read as a kid did have it right, sometimes we can be called to do something that changes a persons world. We now can see a branch of the family tree grow more leaves as it becomes reconnected.
Morrow Detective Agency is a licensed private investigation firm located on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles, Ca in Simi Valley, CA. Morrow Detective Agency is capable of performing surveillance, process service, locates, background investigations, asset investigations, and more. Please feel free to visit our website at www.MorrowDetectiveAgency.com or give us a call at (805) 823-3540 and allow us to make your problem our solution!
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