Aside from theft simply being illegal, it can set the company back a pretty penny depending on the final cost. Statistics from government agencies show that internal theft exceeds $50 billion annually.
Having set guidelines that employees know about can help to sway potential internal thefts. The guidelines for internal theft also ensure that the company responds in a legal way, without escalation. Being sure to follow the law is what Private Investigators are about.
The first order of business is to hire a Private Investigator to handle the internal theft. From there, is it best to begin the investigations as soon as possible. This will set a precedent for other employees, letting them know investigations begin swiftly, calmly, legally, and ethically.
Theft can happen to anything that is not nailed down in an office, which is why it is crucial to hire a professional Private Investigator to conduct the investigation. Audits can be done on inventory and financial records to determine the damage. It is important to determine how deep the theft goes. Whether it’s office supplies or goes through to unreconciled financial reports.
Services that CIAPI can offer that would benefit an internal theft case are:
- Computer Forensics
- Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
- Fingerprinting
- Retail Loss and Theft Prevention
- Undercover and Covert Investigations
- Employee and Pre-Employment Screening Programs
- Criminal Investigation Services
- Polygraph or Lie Detection Services
- Investigations for Missing Employees
- Supplier and Vendor Screening
- Public Records and Comprehensive Information Research
- Surveillance Investigation
- Hidden Asset Investigation
After speaking with a Private Investigator from CIAPI, we will implement our plans based on the following:
- Consultation to discuss analysis
- Develop a plan of action
- Agreements
- Put the plan into action
- Present findings with documentation
If items appear to be missing during inventory or you notice spreadsheets aren’t reconciling, it may be worth looking into to cut potential company losses. The sooner we are able to look into the case, the more secure the company will be from current and/or future internal theft.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written. It is not intended to provide legal advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome. Individual situations will differ and the law may have changed since publication. Readers considering legal action should consult with an attorney to understand current laws and how they may affect a case.