its that time of year.. i think

We have been getting more and more cheating spouse calls in recent weeks. I notice a spike with all the new fall shows come to TV

Basically my feeling is if you think they are cheating, they probably area, but talk to your attorney first to see what is really needed in your state to move forward

The Proof is in the Hand writing

Another interesting method of detecting deception is the Scientific Content Analysis (SCAN) program, SCAN looks at what people write regarding a situation in which they are a person of interest. For instance many child abusers will refer to their victims as "the child", not Susy or Johnny. This is a way of distancing themselves. In a wife murder case, the husbands uses many pronouns avoiding the use of the deceased wife's name. The link for this is http://www.lsiscan.com/









Jeff Paige Investigations DCJS 11-5577

1007 N. King Street Suite H

Hampton, Virginia 23669

Email: jeff@jeffpaigeinvestigations.hrcoxmail.com

Web: www.jeffpaigeinvestigations.com

757.872.7007/800.358.9331

FAX: 757.251.6327

its all about the learning..

Having just finsihed 8.5 credits from a PALI two day seminar, I realized that this business is all about the learning. With the age of the internet, people think they can do just about anything on line. WOW, can i tell you that is just so wrong. Most of the sites that the public can acess are not worth the paper you print them on. Then once they realize that they waste $50 on something that was wrong, cant be used in court or just a joke they call us.

We are learning new things almost daily. New sites we sign up for, new datbases with more accurate information, more ways to help our business, professional and person clients.

I then sit back and think, i tell our investigators i wouldnt do it that way and they still do it.. Its all about the learning. I have been doing this sicne 1987, i think i know better. I dont know it all but i know better.

We were nomiated again this year for investigator of the year, we are one of seven this year. We won last year. Win or lose, to us it was all about being nomiated.

The desk is full, but feel free to add to it

Make it a great day, or not...

Michele Harris
Harris Investigations, LLC
Licensed in Pa, NJ and DE (soon MD)

a fellow investigators information

Walshin Investigations is a specialized private investigation firm that values client assurance and trust: Confidentiality is our first priority. Our firm and private investigators have numerous years of experience working with local and national law firms, individuals and corporations.

Walshin Investigations expertise focuses on comprehensive research and quality report writing. Our private investigators achieve all-inclusive results by conducting due diligence investigations, asset searches, background checks, witness interviews, service of process and several other investigative services.

CALL: 877-962-1272

Its been a while since we put up a blog

Spending a few days at Pi Classes, you see what people do and dont out there. How cut throat this business is and can be. How you think your friend with someone and they stab you in the back. Im the first one to offer to help my fellow Pi but it seems I am the first one to get busted on for doing it. I am the first one to be told you are not doing it right. Well you know what... Yesterday it came out..we were one of 7 companies in the running for Investigator of the year in Philadelphia. One I never heard of, one isnt even a Pa company and subs out all their work. The others are multi people companies. Well you know what? I dont care. We have a great team in place. Based on facebook we have a great chance to win. One of the companies we were up against last year is not there this year. Wow.. should I go on. I am a woman in a field that is mostly men, mostly retired cops. I love my job and do my job well.

Brenna has been doing subpeonas, investigations and keeping the office together. Run jumped in on the ground and has been off running doing surveillance.

some of these topics mean nothing to me. Most of this year was criminal stuff, which we are now getting into, but some of these people talk in circles.

someone even tried to back stab us and tell them untruths about us then left this morning before we could talk to them about it

Its a day in my life

but I can say having vertigo and doing this work, stinks

hum... after 25 years... i dont know how to do my job??

last week, i had someone tell me that i do not know how to do my job. I have been in this field since 1987. Started my own company in 2005. Made it as the Investigation Agency of the year last year (5 years into business), by the readers of the Legal Intelligencer and nomiated this year again and we are in the top 3.. polls open Wednesday and close in 30 days. I dont have all my eggs in one basket either. We do work for insurance companies, Law Firms, Fourtune 500 companies and every day people. Most put their eggs in one basket like private duty work or government contracts. We are licensed in 3 soon to be 4 states. Most are licensed in only one.

So you want to tell me i dont know how to do my job? Well i would look back and see that your wrong. We have grown and continue to grow...

HARRIS INVESTIGATIONS IS THE ONLY COMPANY TO CONTACT FOR YOUR TRI STATE AREA INVESTIGATIONS!

www.harrisinvestigations.net

the proof is in the handwritting...

Recently our office manager Brenna has taking a liking to handwritting analysis and we just might start offering that. With a great local mentor, Brenna is very much interested in this subject.

Apparently its true, the proof is in your handwritting. We are in the process of having an actual expert check our samples for information as well.

So remember what they taught you in school, it might be valuable

They do find proof in the handwritting!

Michele Harris
Harris Investigations, LLC

Signs of Cheating Spouse

Sudden increase in time away from you or your home.

Decreased sexual interest with you.

Cheating husband or wife is often "unavailable" or out of the office while at work.

Cheating spouse attends new functions outside of work and wants to go alone.

Cheating spouse leaves house or goes to other rooms to talk on the telephone.

Cheating spouse uses computer alone and secretly.

Cheating spouse asks about your schedule more often than usual.

Mileage on car is high yet he / she reports only short distance errands.

Clothes smell of perfume or cologne.

Cheating spouse gets his / her laundry done independently.

Unexplained payments on bank statements.

Cell phone bills contain calls with long duration. Many cheaters use cellular telephones to communicate with their lovers. Check the call detail on bill for the first number called when your mate first leaves for work and the same number called again right before they return home.

Cheating spouse now has a phone card but never used one before.

Cheating wife or husband has unexplained receipts in wallet or purse.

Cheating spouse has suspicious phone voice-mail messages.

Cheating spouse has suspicious cell phone numbers stored or dialed.

Internet web browser history list (this is a record of web sites visited) contains unusual sites.

Cheating spouse begins to use new or free e-mail account.

Cheating spouse is suddenly deleting e-mail messages.

If you believe your spouse is cheating, we can help, contact
Harris Investigations at 888-484-9827. We have offices in Pa, NJ and De

The job is not at all what i expected...

The private investigating business is not what I had expected at all. Everyone sees all of the made for TV drama that happens on the reality shows and I will admit that I fell for it. I did not realize how much was involved in this line of business. There is a lot of hard work and clever ways to get done what needs to be done. I always thought that with all of the technology these days it wouldn’t be so hard to locate a person but I was proved wrong on that one!

One of the first cases that Michele had me attempt involved a local watering hole and there were a couple of leads on people to research. I hit many dead ends and I did not expect that. As I had said before, TV made it look easy, hahaha. I expected to be able to find more information easier. Michele gave me a lot of helpful hints on finding the information that needed to be found. I did not expect to use some of the tools that were used on the internet and needless to say, I was very interested in learning from Michele in order to accomplish the end goal.

I always assumed that private investigators were almost like bounty hunters in a way but now seeing how it really is, I have found it to be low key and more behind the scenes. I guess that is where the name “private investigator” comes into play. I am excited to continue learning and helping people uncover the truth.


Brenna Reilly
Harris Investigations, LLC

A Fresh Start....

We have gone thru alot of changes the past few months, but change is good. If i would have taken my own advise and done background checks on potential employees maybe this would have gone smoother earlier.

Welcome Brenna Reilly to our office. She has taken over as manager. she has already taught me a few things, lol..

We are trying to get the right investigative staff in place, but its not easy to replace such good help. We have been threw a handful of people. Some started ok then took two jobs, some try to tell me what to do and how to run my company, some didnt want to work, some cant work. but if i would have done my homework that never would have happened.

so take it from me. do a background check, check references or you will be going over and over again to get the right person with the right fit

Summer Fun ........

Summer time is an unusual time in an investigation agency. Some times its very busy with domestic cases. Some times is slow with insurance fraud cases. Either way its summer.

Its time for summer interns at alot of places. Picnic's and parties

for us its time to update databases, try new things, bring new people on.
Its time to do research and take CLE classes.

what about you. what do you do for the summer

This year we plan on expanding to Maryland in summer. Making us open in PA, NJ and DE.

i was adopted... can you help

Recently i have been getting dozens of calls about finding birth parents. Yes it can be done, HOWEVER when looking for anyone, parent, sibling, ex girlfriend whomever the law CLEARLY states THEY must give us permission to give you the information. Most times we give them your informaiton and leave it up to them to contact you.

That being said, I then tell the prospective client that and they try to do it all on their own. HOWEVER, yet again, DO NOT use those databases and searches you find on line like Net Detective or Intellius or what not. They are NOT worth the paper you print them on.

Someone yesterday called me and asked me what i thought of a service that ran Pa plates on line. Yet again its NOT worth the paper its printed on. PA DMV like many many others are NOT on line in any way, shape or form. He said whatever hung up and used it. When it goes to court and its the wrong person or car, he will learn.

In this day in age you get what you pay for. If you really want to know, and know the truth, contact a licensed, bonded and insured Investigator... someone like Harris Investigations, LLC

Reasons to do a background cehck

Checking applicants' references is one of the most important procedures in the hiring process. Many job seekers misrepresent their backgrounds and credentials; others simply leave out important information. And no matter how honest applicants are, you can still learn a great deal by talking to other people who know them well.

These nine tips will help you get the goods on a job applicant:

1. Tell all applicants that you will check their references before you make any hiring decisions.

2. Ask each applicant to sign a release form permitting you to ask detailed questions of former employers and other references (sample background check permission forms are listed on this page).

3. Fax over a copy of the prospective employee's background check waiver and your personal credentials before you call a prospective employee's references.

4. Verify basic information such as employment dates, job titles, salary, and types of jobs performed.

5. Avoid vague questions. Ask specific questions based on what you learned about the applicant in the interview.

6. Pay attention to neutral or negative comments from references.

7. Put less weight on positive references. Some employers give positive references even to bad ex-employees, because they're afraid of legal action or are tired of paying unemployment taxes on the applicant.

8. Use former supervisors or senior coworkers as references. An applicant might not want you to contact their current employer (who might not know about the job hunt), but there are always people who can provide a reference.

9. Don't rely on prospective employees' verbal word regarding salary figures. Ask for a current pay stub to verify employment and pay rate.

Another bit of research you might conduct on a prospective employee is a background check. Not every company does this, and not every position merits it, but it might be appropriate for many of your staff. Hope this post can be helpful to you.

election day is coming

Tho there is no indication there will be a great turn out, you might be surprized to see a Private Investigator in the crowd. Some parties bring Pi's in to protect the canidate, some to keep an eye on the polls. Some to make sure things are fair. In some cases they are highered by one side or the other, the D or R or sometimes both together.

I know my team will be out and about tommorow and i know you will never know they are there.

I also know, no matter the weather, no matter what time, if you want change, you need to vote. Dont complain about the things that can be changed if you dont vote.

If you dont like Drop, fix it, If you dont like whats happening fixed it, go vote.

Granted its only the may election the biggy is in November but if you canidate doesnt make it this time they wont be there in November

in light of recent happenings

in light of the recent news stories, we have been getting calls, facebook comments and the like about what someone could have done to prevent the things that happened recently.


I never really thought about having someone do a background check on their neigbors but that might be the way things are going now a days. Tho it can be done, we can not supply you their dob or SS# but can confirm or deny criminal or civil matters on file.


We always suggest landlords, big or small, do this themselves prior to renting. Even checking one's credit, employer and prior landlord contacts. Most, dont do it. The smart ones do and charge the would be tenant to do this.


I am not saying that would have prevented this matter, im just suggesting that background checks be done prior to renting, employing or dating someone

Dont use those searches you find on line, most are not very accurate and you get what you pay for.


In light of this as well, we have gotten calls to watch people's children or escort them home and inside their home safely until an another adult arrives.

It makes one think about things, even me, the investigator. I am a parent first.


My heart goes out to the famlies involved and the door to Harris Investigations is always open to help.

so you want to be a private investigator?

Oddly, my company is looking for an investigator, so i felt the need to blog about it.

We have gone thru some great people and some not so great people. We have had men, woman and children interview for the job's over the years. some people say retired law enforcement are the best. They could be. Some say women can not do this. Well look at me.

This business changes every day, every minute and people in this business need to think business 24 hours a day. need to think on their feet. Dont want to get into this business becuase of what they see on TV. TRUST ME ITS NOTHING LIKE IT AT ALL. Have a good head on their sholders, can shoot a video and take photos, a very flexible schedule.


Yes, it is that hard to find a good worker.

Yes we are hard on people we bring on board.

yes we are bonded, licensed and insured, making us one step ahead of some of our competition, but yes we are sucessful.


So as i tell everyone. You think you want to do this ? then try. Its not easy. You must have a client base that will stay with you thick and thin. You cant learn this job in a book. You need to learn this from someone and one the streets of Philadelphia so the song says.

Harris Investigations,LLC is an agency with their main office in Lansdale, Pa but with offices in Pittsburgh, Pa, Deptford, NJ and Wilmington, DE


Call us any time at 215-368-1760 or on the web at www.harrisinvestigations.net

what can my blogs do for you?

As an investigator a blog helps me get the word out there on what a Private Investigator really does. Many people think we are like magnum pi, rockford files . Well what can a Private Investigator do for you and why would you need one?

Investigators can-do background checks on your tenants, employees or potential employees, girl/boyfriend and spoouses. they can serve papers in matter. They can secure statements that the other side might not be able to get. they can find your long lost parents if you were adopted. Some even provide security guard services or exective protection.

There are also things that pi's can do like run a tag of the hot girl that drove past you, get phone bills, bank account numbers or credit reports.

You can get an education on what a general private Investigator does right from our website at www.harrisinvestigations.net

Our experience is listed there as well.

Not just anyone can be a PI. You need either years of law enforcement or working for someone else as investigator for years to get licensed in most states. There are still a very few states (i believe its 4 now) that you do not need a license to practice. You do need insurance and a bond. Most cases 1 million/3 million insurance and anywhere from a 10,000 to 50,000 bond.

I love my job and wouldnt trade it for the world, I just want people to undertand what we really do.



More blogs that are not posted to the batch side can be found at harrisinvestigations.blogspot.com. You can also follow our facebook page at Harris Investigations, LLC

Am I really a Private Investigator?

Yes, I am. I have been in this business since 1987. Started my own company here in Lansdale, Pa in 2005. But the next question you will ask is... Wow is it really like what you see on TV? NOPE, not at all. TV is fiction most of the time. Then the next question usually is really? I want to do this? My answer to you is NOPE. First there are about 2000 PI's in Pa alone that are actually licensed. YES, you need to be bonded, licensed and insured. That number is about 1/2 of what it was 3 years ago. The work is just about gone for this field. There are many police officers and federal agents that get into this business and are done in about 3 years. This is a cut throat business as well.



Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Wouldn't trade it for the world. But you have to work 60-80 hours a week, even when there is no work to be done. You are always working or thinking about working. It is by now means glamours. There was a time all we were investigating was fraud. Then it was domestic and divorce cases. Now its little bit of this and little bit of that.

Social media has killed most of the PI work that we used to do on the ground.



So if you were thinking of doing this, think again.

If you think you need a PI, check out our website, www.harrisinvestigations.net for more information.

Not a day goes by

when people and things cease to amaze me. The trend now seems to be criminal investigations (of which we have great retired law enforcement officals helping us with), and more legal investigations. Thirty years ago it was mostly insurance investigations and insurance fraud. For the past 5 years insurance fraud investigations are going by the wayside. Some companies do not invetigate claims any more, some raised their investigation limits, some have claim reps do their own investigations. Many rely on untruths they find on the internet believing everything they find, only to get hurt in court.

Social media has taken alot of surveillance away from people, so remember what is on the internet will come back and bite you in the ass if you dont watch what you are doing.

I love my job and love the friends , collegues and clients we have met along the way. I cant imagine doing anything more!

How do I become a PI?

Gee i get that call two lot from May to June or every time a sememster ends. Can i come intern or how do i get your job? I tell people DONT, RUN. In this business its all about who you know. I was lucky. I had clients that begged me to start my own firm after being elsewhere for some time. They came with me. From that I obtained more. I get calls all the time from retired FBI agents or Cops getting into this about how to get work or stay in the business. I cant help them. Alot of companies have closed vendor lists and you cant get on them.

I love my job and spend hours each day looking for the new client or the new leads. My husband and i put at least 120 hours a week into this company, leaving not alot of time for sleep or kids.

but to answer the question.. alot depends on where you live, what the rules are so you have to start there.

There is no school for Pi's that is worth you money so save that time and money.. you have to work your way up the food chain like all the rest of the gumshoes have

that time of year

While sitting here wondering what to post to the blog today, i wondered... What should I really write. Then i thought.. i must get dozens of calls a week saying can you do this? I say no. then i get well why not they do it on TV. I too love those TV Shows like NCIS, Magnum PI, Rockford Files, CSI etc,. but come on people that's tv. Today a man asked me why i cant put a camera in a hotel room where he knew his wife was having an affair. I said becuase thats tv. He said well cheaters is supposed to be pi's. I tried to explain they were recorded in their homes not a hotel and that you can put anything you want in your own home provided its your own home. Mad he hung up.

I get those calls alot but how do you have someone believe you that its only tv. After 30 years in the field and 5 of them at my own company, I am pretty sure i know what i can do and cant do legally.

So i tell them, I am sure there are Pi's out there that will do it but its not legal and it wont stand up in court.

I wish them luck and remind them to get someone that is bonded, licensed and insured in the state or states they do your work in.

Funny they always call me back .. then their price goes up..

whirlwind week

Paul started this week and has put in alot of hours. Mike has been kicking surveillance but all week too, i had to give him 2 days off..lol. We are going to expand into Maryland by the summer. Charlie has been doing his marketing.. at CentralPAIday today in Camp Hill, meeting new friends.

People finally realize what Private Investigators can do for them and why Harris Investigations, LLC was the Best Private Investigation Agency of 2010 by the Legal Intelligencer Members.

check us out on the web at www.harrisinvestigations.net

follow this blog
check us on facebook at Harris Investigations, LLC

or join our yahoogroups

tristateprivateinvestigators@yahoogroups.com or tristateprocessservers@yahoogroups.com

you will be glad you did!

changes ahead at Harris Investigations, LLC

We have partnered with a great guy in Pittsburgh, Pa to help Charlie with the Pittsburgh field office work. Stacey is keeping us sane (with her wine and shot glass) in the office and trying to keep us together. Leroy downsized to part time but we have added Chris and Paul to the mix. We still have Joe, Pop, Herb, Michael, Rob and Robert aboard. Katlynn helps Stacey in the office, tho i think they gossip most of the time lol.. Just when we get caught up we get slammed again. There are prints that say this field will increase by 30% by 2013 with more Pi's so we all have to work that much harder to stay in business.

There are great new things on the horizon for us.. wont you join us @ www.harrisinvestigations.net

April happenings

We are making all kinds of changes around the Harris Investigations, LLC front. Change is good, so they say. We are moving forward with things and hope these changes help us with the Investigator of the Year again in 2011. Mike is helping us with our Pittsburgh Office. Leroy went from full to part time. Rob, Herb, Robert, Pop Pop, Chris and Joe are working part time. Paul is coming aboard to work full time. Stacey has taken the reigns in the office as the office manager. This all frees Charlie up to do more marketing and Michele time to give the clients the attention they need.

Follow our blog, which we hope to at least update weekly. Check our website for valueable information. Call our office with questions

www.harrisinvestigations.net is the only site you need if you need PI work or service of process in PA, NJ or DE

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON

I always say you get what you pay for when you higher a Pi.. that being said we keep making changes to better our company..

We now have a marketing person. We now have an office manager and several full time investigators. We Strive every day to be better than the day before.

Its a tough world out there, as noted on my prior blog, a collegue was killed in the line of duty.

we were voted the Best PI Agency in Pa in 2010 for a reason and plan to make it a winning streak this year..

watch our website for updates and changes as we grow and expand

Dangers of Being a PI

A former colleague of this private investigator found killed in Harrisonburg VW

Being a PI can be very dangerous, because we typically work alone in an emotionally-charged environment.

SEE THE BELOW ARTICLE ON MY COLLEGUE IN WV FOUND DEAD IN HIS CAR.. THIS SHOWS YOU WHAT I HAVE SAID ALL ALONG.. THIS IS NOT LIKE TV AND NOT FUN AND GAMES LIKE EVERYTHING THINKS IT IS




The man found dead in his car at the Valley Mall in Harrisonburg on Sunday had been a private investigator for several decades, and it was a business that ran in his family.

Greg Brown's body was found in the trunk of his car.

A private investigator from Florida, named Chuck Chambers, says he worked with Greg Brown back in the early 1980s. Chambers says Brown's father and brother were also private investigators.

He says Brown left Florida to become a preacher in Tennessee. Then, about seven years ago, Brown decided to come to Virginia to open his own private investigations business.

Chambers says he was so sad early Tuesday morning when he heard of Brown's death.

"There's not a lot of private investigators around," said Chambers. "When you lose one, it's almost like losing a brother. Greg's main goal in life was to help people."

Chambers says being a private investigator can be a dangerous job, because they typically work by themselves with no backup.

"You're out there working late at night," said Chambers. "You're alone, and the emotions are running really high in these cases, especially if it's a divorce case or infidelity case."

Court records show that the suspect, Ali Abid, from Weyers Cave, is going through a divorce. Police say they suspect that Abid has fled the country.

Moving Right along...

We have had our share of ups and downs the past few months. Lots of changes in staff, office expansion (Harrisburg and a move in Pittsburgh area), changes in what services we offer and what we do most, working on our Act 235 to do armed and unarmed security in the future, and much much more.

We are doing more legal work, surveillance and background checks (which is a good thing, that means people are checking out their employees and finally doubting claims).

We are doing more research and court searches, more service of process.

We have had a few bumps in the road, snow, ice, sleet, accidents and mishaps, but Harris Investigations, LLC every day gets bigger and stronger and wants to keep our clients proud that they voted us the Investigation Agency of the Year in Pa in 2010...

Follow Harris Investigations, LLC here and on facebook and twitter

Check our our website at www.harrisinvestigations.net

Rain, Snow, Sleet and Hail...

We have not missed many days in this business due to weather in the past 5 years but this past winter has taken a toll on us. We actually closed two days, along with everyone else in the area over the past two or three weeks. Month nature can be a PI's best and worst enemy I guess

More and more investigators are calling to offer to sell us their companies or find out how we are still in business. One offered to buy mine but we are not selling. We will not become part of one of those companies that has an office in a sunny warm place and then boast nationwide coverage yet they are using someone elses license.

I know two years ago 1/3 of the Pa Pi's closed. Im waiting for the numbers for this years report. I have a feeling its less yet again

To work in my office or be a subcontractor for my company you need to love what you do and have dedication to the company and the passion for your job. This goes for the investigators, owners, office help, and even the vendors we use.

Harris Investigations, LLC has offices in Pa, NJ and De. We have actual office space in Lansdale, Pa and Wilmington, De. Our NJ and Pittsburg offices are in shared office space either in a commerical location or one of my investigators homes for the time being until we expand more there. We will be expanding into Harrisburg, Pa soon

Call us any time 888-484-9827 or via web www.harrisinvestigations.net

change is good

we have been going thru changes in staff, services, locations and ideas. Change is good. We are expanding to Harrisburg, Pa soon. We are partnering with Moonlight Courier Services for service work. We are changing inner office staff soon and having help inside a few offices not just the investigators. We have added new services that customers want. We are adding new clients that couldnt find someone to help them and we do quickly.

Look for new annoucments about these changes and our goal to be the investigator of the year for 2011 too!

Its a New Year....

its a new year at Harris Investigations, LLC and i tend to try to blog at least once a week and even have my employees blog too.

We had a pretty good year last year. We were nominated the BEST INVESTIGATION AGENCY OF 2010 (PA) by the readers of the Legal Intelligencer. We hope to become the best in NJ and DE this year. This year started slow but its now booming along now the holidays are over.

The snow has slowed us some but we are all putting out our best effort forward. New clients are coming to us which is a great thing.

We still get alot of calls from every day people thinking we can do like on tv.. PLEASE TV Is fiction and in most cases can not be done in the real world or by a PI only the police, FBI or other authorities. We also can just find your lost love becuase you want us to. There are stalker laws that prevent us from giving you that informaiton but we can ask your lost love to contact you if they want.

dont forget.. do background checks on employees!

Dont forget.. if you think you need a private Investigator you probably do!

Contact any of our offices in Pa, NJ or De via one toll free # 888-484-9827 or check the web at www.harrisinvestions.net