Private Investigator Blog

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At Sentry Investigations Ltd, we like to give our visitors an idea of what a private investigator Birmingham actually gets up to. Since the profession was created, a very mysterious/'cloak and dagger' reputation has been formed. Furthermore, some unsavoury characters within the industry have unfortunately tarnished the highly professional work we do each day, and we want to put an end to it.

We want to eliminate the common misconceptions surrounding private investigations by being open with clientele from the offset. We do this to allow them to form their own opinions, and see the huge benefits of the investigative services we provide. Don't get us wrong, there are certain aspects to the job that we do like to keep close knit, However, you can quite easily research everything we do simply via online searches on various forums. This blog was formed to give people insights into the private investigations industry, and to showcase the work we do.

#CheatingPartner

Sentry Investigations Ltd

2 min

#CheatingPartner

We have recently got off the ground after having investigated a fairly sensitive infidelity case which brought to light some serious findings. The data subject in question decided to just up and leave our client one day, leaving her high and dry with lots of unanswered questions spinning around in her head. Although the client and the data subject were still in minimal contact, lies, deception and vagueness were a part of every conversation they had leaving the client feeling

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Corporate Investigations

Sentry Investigations Ltd

2 min

Corporate Investigations

Making use of a corporate or private investigator may come across as quite a daunting or even dodgy prospect. The truth is, many business owners are unaware of the laws and regulations surrounding employee-based investigations and as such, they are rarely considered when a business is going through serious internal problems. That being said, actually finding a legally compliant investigator can have its own problems, which is why it is always advised to approach a professiona

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Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Sentry Investigations have recently taken on membership with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to provide us with strong networking opportunities with other professional businesses across the region. We look forward to meeting with other professionals (even if it is on Zoom at the moment), and we hope to be able to provide our services when and where needed. We wrote our first article in the daily news letter yesterday which explains the consequences of moonlighting within a

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Other Ways of Making Money

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Other Ways of Making Money

With Covid-19 absolutely smashing the economy, jobs and people’s lives, there is no doubt the less fortunate will be turning to other means of making a few quid. When you have a family to feed with no source of income, an easy way of making money these days is through fraudulent insurance claims. Although we completely understand why people will turn to such drastic measures, it does not make it right in any way. Insurance fraud is expected to sky rocket in the coming years w

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When Things Go Right

Sentry Investigations Ltd

3 min

When Things Go Right

Since our last blog post “When Things Go Wrong”, I thought it would only be right to follow up with “When Things Go Right”. For the most part things do actually go right with a day’s surveillance usually running like clockwork from beginning to end. There will always be little issues to contend with on all operations such as sighting an OP which isn’t overlooked by neighbours, or obtaining vehicle details from a vehicle that is out of view etc. For seasoned operatives, issues

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When Things Go Wrong...

Sentry Investigations Ltd

5 min

When Things Go Wrong...

When we as surveillance operatives arrive on a job, all we want is a nice smooth day with a good result and some great footage to hand over to the client at the end of it. The majority of us are well trained and we know exactly what we are doing on the ground, so you would think pulling great results on every single job is standard practice, right? wrong! There is one thing I have learnt when dealing with clients (which can be quite tricky), and that is how to manage their ex

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Due Diligence

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Due Diligence

A quick blog to remind perspective clients on the importance of conducting due diligence when instructing a private investigator. In this unregulated industry there are more unchecked operators out there than those who associate with any professional bodies. These cowboys regularly break the law to achieve clients results. One mistake from these guys could leave you (the client) high and dry by being dragged through the legal system very quickly indeed. Carrying out due dilig

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Soldier to Spy

Sentry Investigations Ltd

5 min

Soldier to Spy

Before joining the British Army, I, like most 18 year olds didn’t have a clue what to do with my life. I was my dads apprentice plumber and I absolutely hated it. Commuting to Central London every day in the van with no enthusiasm for the trade until it was time to clean up and pack up (that’s when I performed at my best) was pretty much how things went for 6 months or so. My dad had a clear passion for the job, and fair play to him. He made a name for him self in the trade a

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A Day in the Life...

Sentry Investigations Ltd

4 min

A Day in the Life...

Yesterday started like most days with the alarm going off at 0430hrs and me springing out of bed to get ready for the hour or so journey ahead. Coffee flask filled up, kit is at the bottom of the stairs from where I dropped it last night, keys (check) wallet (check), phone (check) and I’m out the door... Back in the door, face mask (check). I get to the car and position my kit inside where it serves it’s purpose best. Reset mileage on the trip meter and off we go. The journey

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Taking a “Sick Day”

Sentry Investigations Ltd

3 min

Taking a “Sick Day”

Although absence rates across both the public and private sectors have been falling since 1995, the figures still don’t look good on paper. According to the 2018 survey published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on 6th November 2019, an eye watering 141.4 million working days were lost illness or injury. The key thing here is the date on which this survey was completed as it won’t be taking the Coronavirus outbreak into consideration. Numbers are expected to rise sh

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Myth Busting

Sentry Investigations Ltd

3 min

Myth Busting

The private investigations industry comes packed with a whole host of myths that we are forever putting to rest for people who at no fault of their own, are none the wiser. We have put together a short list of surveillance based myths and questions we regularly come across to add some knowledge to brains... Q1 - Is surveillance like the films? A - It depends what film you are watching. If the film was based around my day today, it would be an 8 hour blockbuster of me hiding i

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Camera Upgrade

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Camera Upgrade

Cheeky camera upgrade for the tool bag. Wrongens don’t want to be on the receiving end of a Panasonic HC-VXF1, it’s basically the AK-47 of video cameras... Check the spec below! https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/cameras-camcorders/camcorders/hd-camcorders/hc-vxf1.html #sentryinvestigations #panasonichcvxf1 #surveillanceoperative #privateinvestigations #privateinvestigatorsnorthamptonshire #privateinvestigatorsbirmingham #4kvideocameras #abi #associationofbritishinvestigat

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Localised Lockdowns

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Localised Lockdowns

With Leicester coming up to its review to hopefully ease lockdown restrictions, Blackburn is potentially going to be replacing it. Every square inch of the UK is currently under the governments watchful eye with local flare ups being assessed via regional data being disseminated on a daily basis. When areas of the U.K go into lockdown, it can only mean they are no go areas for surveillance operatives. Firstly, our own health and well being is paramount and secondly, it highly

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Debt Collection

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Debt Collection

Debt collection is not an field Sentry Investigations gets involved with, but it does involve some unique investigative skills to carry out the job effectively. It is a highly controversial industry due to some of the practices some bailiffs implement and due to the very nature of the job, but on the other hand, they are a necessary profession to recover debts possibly owed to you! With Covid-19 measures in place and the country in lockdown, bailiffs were banned from debt col

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Face Masks

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Face Masks

It is becoming more likely that the UK population will be required to mask up in more public places such as shops and supermarkets. It does beg the question as to why it has taken so long for the government to adopt this position considering the rest of the world is already doing so. As for investigators in the private sector, this can be a double edged sword. On one hand, it can become even tricker when trying to identify a subject, so we can only hope they remove their fac

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Open for Business

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Open for Business

It’s being dubbed as “Super Saturday” next weekend where we will find the doors opening once again for businesses such as hair dressers, pubs, cinemas, museums and staycations. With the business doors opening, so will the fraudsters doors, giving us the perfect opportunities to catch them out. If you are blagging an injury, be warned, we will be watching! Read up on the details below with The Mail online. https://mol.im/a/8450117 #sentryinvestigations #privateinvestigatorsnor

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Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Brand Protection

Counterfeit goods make for big business on the black market, and known brands lose millions of pounds each year because of them. It is an everlasting battle against the trade of such illicit goods with both public and private sectors fighting for big brands. As private investigators we evidence the sale of counterfeit goods and follow the trail all the way back to the point of manufacturing in order to bring everyone involved to justice and getting the factories shut down. Cl

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Back to Normal?

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Back to Normal?

With the shops re-opening and the government giving us back a few more freedoms, millions flocked to the shops yesterday but only to find some very long wait times just to get in the door! What does this mean for Sentry Investigations? Most importantly it means people have reason to be leaving their houses finally, so we can start catching the fraudsters, cheaters, moonlighters, crooks, etc etc etc! Click below to see the report from the BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/busi

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Corporate Surveillance

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

Corporate Surveillance

How can a private investigator help your company? If you suspect any wrong doing such as employee theft, exaggerated employee absenteeism, fabricated injuries in the workplace, moonlighting (working for competitors), we can investigate by deploying highly trained surveillance operatives to evidence your suspicions. Whether it be a mobile operation or an undercover operation in your workplace, Sentry Investigations are experts in the field. #Sentryinvestigations #employeetheft

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GDPR

Sentry Investigations Ltd

1 min

GDPR

Fantastic GDPR workshop over the weekend with the ABI. As private investigators we must be on the ball when handling personal data. If you have not had any training in this subject, it is highly likely you are not complying with GDPR requirements. This workshop with the secretariat has given us the confidence to ensure our data handling procedures are up to scratch, and this is what differentiates professional investigators to rogue investigators. #GDPR #ABI #SentryInvestigat

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