The Modern PI’s Toolkit: A Guide to Surveillance Gear and Legal Lines

Surveillance equipment

Modern private investigators rely on more than just intuition. This guide explores the essential spy gear for PIs, from 2025’s top GPS trackers and covert cameras to digital forensic software. We also detail the critical legal lines—on privacy, trespassing, and recording—that define a true professional.

Expandable Batons for Self-Defense

Expandable Batons: A Compact Tool for Self-Defense

Expandable batons are a versatile and compact self-defense tool, offering protection in threatening situations. This article explores the features, benefits, and legal considerations of carrying and using expandable batons. It also provides insight into how these tools can be an essential part of personal security for law enforcement and civilians alike.

Bulletproof Vests, Shirts, Backpacks and other Protective Gear

bulletproof vests

What are bulletproof vests? Bulletproof vests are like sleeveless shirts worn on the body’s upper portion (torso). The protective bulletproof vests serve as personal armor that helps absorb the impact of bullets, projectiles, and shrapnel from explosions. The ultimate purpose is to protect your vital organs. How are Bulletproof Vests … Read more

Audio Surveillance Equipment for Investigators

Audio Amplifiers

Overview of Audio Surveillance Tools Audio surveillance equipment is used by intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and private investigators to monitor and record subjects in various settings. Audio surveillance can be conducted from a distance using covert listening devices hidden inside the dwelling. Or, audio amplifiers can be attached to a … Read more

Wiretapping Consent States: Guidelines for Intercepting Communications

What is Wiretapping? This article provides an overview of wiretapping, including a review of the Wiretap Act and a list of one-party and two-party consent states. Wiretapping, also known as telephone tapping, is monitoring telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often covertly. Wiretapping received its name because the monitoring … Read more

GPS Tracking Devices

What is GPS? GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System, a system of satellites and receiving devices that compute positions on the Earth. Three people invented the United States Department of Defense technology: Ivan A. Getting, Bradford Parkinson, and Roger L. Easton. Initially, they developed the technology to help … Read more

Faraday Bag – How to keep others from tracking your mobile phone

Faraday bag

As a private investigator, you know how easy it is to track someone’s location. For instance, placing a GPS tracking device on someone’s vehicle (in states where it is legal). Tracking software will then be used to monitor the movements of that vehicle. Similarly, investigators can use mobile spy software … Read more

Hidden Cameras and Nanny Cams: Devices for Covert Monitoring

Hidden camera

What is a Hidden Camera? A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to capture video footage of people without their knowledge or consent. The camera is “hidden” because it is not visible to the filmed subject or disguised as another object.  Hidden cameras have become famous for … Read more

Tile Item Tracker: Bluetooth Tracking Device

Tile Item Tracker

The small Bluetooth tracking device is one cool gadget that has emerged recently. The most popular such item is the Tile item tracker. The device can be attached to almost anything and tracked via a free app on a smartphone or tablet. The primary purpose is to help you locate … Read more