When most people think of a private investigator, their thoughts usually end up conjuring up a picture of Tom Selek cruising around in a red sports car, or perhaps an individual all dressed in black snapping photographs from a hiding place while their subject continues on with their day having no idea they are being pursued or under surveillance. The history of private investigators starts further back than what you most likely think. Many of the techniques and methods used in private investigations today are accredited to the skills and experience of the earliest private investigators from the 1800s!
Who Was the First Private Detective in History? Eugene Francois Vidocq Biography
In 1833 a man by the name of Eugene Francois Vidocq founded the first ever known private detective agency. Eugene was a French soldier who actually hired ex-cons to work at his agency as detectives. Official law enforcement tried many times to shut Eugene and his detective agency down, but they eventually failed at every attempt. Eugene is credited with having introduced excellent record keeping, criminology and ballistics to criminal investigations. Eugene was responsible for the very first plaster casts of shoe impressions. He also created indelible ink and unalterable bond paper with his own printing company. Another interesting fact about Eugene is that he would not investigate criminals who had stolen for real need, such as food to feed a family.
The Use of Private Investigator Agencies Served a Different Purpose in the Past
In the early days of private investigating agencies, many people hired their services to act as the police in matters that their clients felt the police were not equipped or willing to do. Another major use for these agencies was to use them as sudo law men, especially in situations that dealt with labor and employee issues. Some early private investigators were nothing short as mercenaries or a professional military company assisting private companies with problems that could be solved with force or the show of force.
The 1920s Ushered in the Regular Use of Private Investigator Agencies
The 1920s were a very prosperous time for our country, and the private investigator soon became a person that was easily accessible to Middle America. The private detective industry has grown with the changing needs of the public. Private investigators now handle cases that involve infidelity, unionization, insurance and insurance fraud, criminal defense and much more. If you find yourself in need of a private investigator, look no further than Advanced Private Investigators and Security today.
