By Lorraine Weston
Agatha Christie, the well-known mystery writer, always made sure the private investigators she wrote about had the tools they needed to solve the crime. If you are a private investigator , or want to become one, the equipment you use can play a large part in whether you succeed or fail in gathering the information you need.
Every investigation is different, but for most cases, you will need to gather some “picture” evidence; that is, photographs or video clips. You don’t need to go to an expensive store to get the right supplies: any local electronics store should have what you need, unless of course you are working for the government. Look for a video or photography camera that has a good, clear picture, a long zoom lens (because you don’t want to be too close to the subject you are filming), and extra batteries with a fast-acting battery charger. For digital cameras, buy a large memory card, in case you need to store hundreds of photos.
Take the time to find the right vehicle for the job. You don’t want something conspicuous, like a Lamborghini or a bright purple van. It’s important to be able to park near a building or on the side of a road and blend right in with your surroundings. Buy a vehicle with tinted windows, or tint them yourself with a kit; it is almost impossible to avoid being seen if you are sitting in a vehicle that does not have tinted windows. A mini-van or full-size van will provide you with the storage space you need for supplies, and will give you more room to move around to get the right view of a subject.
Use high-powered microphones and sound-recording equipment to make sure you pick up any voices or other sound you may need as evidence. Test this equipment out ahead of time to see if noise from wind or traffic interferes with the type of sound you want to record.
A laptop computer with Internet access is handy to have, along with some paper and pens or pencils for note-taking. Remember your common sense and don’t break any rules while you are trying to gather evidence! With the right tools and your investigative skills, every case you take on can be a success story.