Criminal InvestigationA fresh look when a case has stalled
Criminal investigation by a private team gives you a fresh, independent look at something that matters to you: a theft, a fraud, a break-in, or a case that has gone quiet. We speak to people again, go back over what is known, and give you a clear account of what we found.
- Theft and break-ins
- Fraud
- Stalled cases
years of investigation work
centres with investigators
investigator on your case
What a private criminal investigation is
A private criminal investigation runs alongside whatever has already been done. Many people come to us after reporting a crime and then hearing very little. Others did not report it at all: the loss felt too small, the person involved too close, or the whole thing too awkward to take further.
Stats SA's latest Victims of Crime survey found that fewer than half of households hit by housebreaking reported it. When nobody is looking at what happened, the trail goes cold fast.
Our criminal investigation services focus on practical questions: who had access, where things went, who saw what, and what was missed the first time. You get the answers in plain language, in a report you can share with whoever you choose. T's and C's apply.
Criminal investigation services for families and businesses
Most criminal investigation work we take on falls into six kinds of case.
Break-ins and theft at home
Jewellery, cash or electronics gone, and a short list of people who could have known where to look.
Theft from a business
Stock, cash or equipment walking out of the door, often with someone on the inside helping.
Fraud and stolen money
Money moved out of an account, a fake investment, or an identity used to open accounts. Our fraud investigations follow where it went.
Stolen vehicles and equipment
A car, a bakkie or tools taken, and questions about who moved them and where they were seen next.
A case that has gone quiet
A matter reported months ago with no news since. A fresh pair of eyes often finds the detail that was missed.
Matters too close to report
When the person involved is a relative, a partner or a long-time employee, and you want to know before you decide anything.
What happened?
Pick the closest one to see where a criminal investigation would usually begin.
Start with who had access
Most thefts involve someone who knew where to look. We start with access, timing and the people around the loss.
Follow the money and the story
Keep every message, receipt and bank notice. A private fraud investigator works out who was behind it and where the money went.
Pick up where it stopped
Bring us the case number and whatever you know. We go back over it and look for what was missed.
Find out quietly first
A relative, a partner, a long-serving employee. We look into it discreetly, so you can decide what to do with the facts in front of you.
A second look at an old matter
Families sometimes still want answers long after something serious happened. Old leads can still be followed. T's and C's apply.
Fraud investigations and a private fraud investigator
Fraud is the case type growing fastest: fake investment platforms, invoice scams, identity theft and money taken by someone the victim knew well. A private fraud investigator focuses on two things: who is really behind it, and where the money went.
If the fraud started with an online romance, our dating scam investigations are the place to begin. If threats came with it, see our help with blackmail and extortion.
- Bank notices, messages and receipts put in order
- The people and accounts involved, set out in one place
- The sequence of events, laid out step by step
- Your options next, set out plainly
- Reported: March, case number on file
- Spoken to: 7 people, 3 not seen before
- Places revisited: 2, with times and dates
- Missed detail: a delivery van seen twice that week
- Next: you decide who sees this report
Sample only. The case, the people and the dates are invented.
How a criminal investigation works with us
Four stages and one contact, with nothing starting until you have agreed the plan.
Tell us what happened
What was lost, when, and who was around. A case number helps but is not essential.
What we will look at
Where to begin, and the price of the work, settled with you before anything moves.
The fresh look
Our investigator speaks to people again and goes back over the places and details that matter.
Your report
A plain-language account of what we found, and a call to talk it through.
A private crime investigator who keeps it discreet
Many clients find a private criminal investigator easier to talk to than they expected. There is no pressure to take anything further; what you do with the answers is up to you.
- One investigator as your contact from start to finish
- Your name kept out of conversations wherever possible
- Updates when and how you want them
- A report you can share with whoever you choose
- More than 10 years of investigation work across six centres
Criminal investigation across South Africa
Local investigators know the areas where things go missing and the people worth speaking to.
Johannesburg and the East Rand
Most criminal investigation work starts in Gauteng: break-ins in the suburbs, stock losses in Germiston and fraud that began online.
private investigators JohannesburgDurban and Pietermaritzburg
Theft and fraud matters across Durban, Pinetown and the Midlands, handled by investigators based in KZN.
private investigators DurbanCape Town and the Boland
Cases in the city, the Cape Flats and out to Paarl and Worcester, with a team who live there.
private investigators Cape TownPolokwane and Tzaneen
Farm theft, stock losses and stalled cases across Limpopo, looked into by a team living in the area.
private investigator PolokwaneMbombela and Barberton
Mbombela and the Lowveld towns, including vehicle and equipment theft near the border routes.
private investigators NelspruitRelated services that often come up during a criminal investigation:
Questions about criminal investigation
What is a private criminal investigation?
An independent look at a crime or suspected crime, done by a private team on your behalf. It focuses on what happened, who was involved and what was missed, and ends with a written report for you.
Can you look into a case that is already open with the police?
Yes. Many clients come to us while a case is open but has gone quiet. We work separately and give you a report you can share with whoever you choose.
Do I need to have reported the crime first?
No. Some clients want to know who was involved before deciding what to do. If somebody is at risk, phone 10111 before anything else.
What kinds of criminal investigation do you take on?
Theft and break-ins, fraud and stolen money, stolen vehicles and equipment, cases that have gone quiet, and old serious matters a family still wants answers on. T's and C's apply.
How much does a criminal investigation cost?
It depends on how much needs looking into and how far the trail goes; the price is agreed with you first. Our private investigator cost guide explains the ranges.
How long does a criminal investigation usually run?
A recent theft with a short list of people can move quickly. An older or more tangled matter takes longer. You will have a realistic idea at the start.
Is there a private crime investigator near me?
If you are near one of our six centres, very likely. Our private detective near me guide covers why a local investigator helps with this kind of work.
Will the person I suspect find out?
Not from us. We look into it quietly, and what follows from our findings is your call.
Tell us what happened
A call, a WhatsApp or a few lines through the form is enough to start a criminal investigation conversation. There is no obligation to go further.
T's and C's apply.