At first glance, stalking appears to be something that primarily affects people from the media world. Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock or Mila Kunis have already been victims; stalkers broke into their homes, wrote them – to put it mildly – suggestive letters and threatened them. In reality, however, this phenomenon does not affect only public figures: in the last ten years, more than 250,000 stalking cases have been registered in Germany. The number of unreported cases is also likely to be enormous, because 1.) stalkers and victims often know each other well and many victims hesitate for a long time before filing a criminal complaint, 2.) the police clearance rate is low and many citizens feel that they would not be helped anyway, and because 3.) the hardly traceable cases of cyberstalking continue to increase.

Anger, revenge, obsession or even the desire to exercise power and control over another person – there are many reasons for stalking; the offence occurs within a wide range of different social relationships. In 2007, the anti-stalking provision § 238 was incorporated into the German Criminal Code, so far with only moderate success. Most police stalking investigations are discontinued due to a lack of evidence, and convictions are rare – despite the reform of the anti-stalking law in 2017. Since then, criminal liability is assumed if the behaviour of the perpetrator is “capable” of “seriously impairing” the victim’s life.

Nevertheless, those affected must of course still provide appropriate evidence. The support of our experienced private investigators from Berlin is helpful in this regard. Even in cases where the identity of the stalker is not known, capable investigators are the right contacts. They discreetly document the stalker’s activities in the background, carrying out a form of counterstalking and thus recognising potential dangers in good time. Through the work of Kurtz Investigations Berlin, stalking can be proven in court in order to create the conditions for the judiciary to take action: +49 30 5557 8641-0.

What Is Stalking? An Attempt at a Definition.

But what exactly lies behind the term “stalking”, whose origin “to stalk” comes from the language of hunters and describes the act of creeping up on game? When do unpleasant but tolerable attempts at contact become a criminal offence, indeed even a case for our detectives in Berlin?

The criminal psychologist and non-fiction author Dr. Jens Hoffmann was one of the first researchers to deal with this topic scientifically: “Stalking occurs repeatedly and at least over several weeks,” he explains. “The victim sets clear boundaries: Do not call me again! However, these boundaries are not accepted by the stalker.” Being stalked is in most cases accompanied by a massive loss of quality of life. The constant feeling of threat and the fear of leaving the house alone severely restrict those affected. And not only that.

Psychological Consequences of Stalking

In a study by the Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen, 88 per cent of female victims stated that they were extremely stressed. Sixty-one per cent also reported feelings of anxiety, and 30 per cent feared being injured by the stalker. Another study by TU Darmstadt shows that two thirds suffer from sleep disorders, and half of those affected from depression. The fear that becomes the central focus in the world of stalking victims is sometimes so strong that it can lead to Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder. The psychologist Jan H. Kamphuis of the University of Amsterdam interviewed 201 victims; it turned out that some were traumatised almost as severely as after an aeroplane crash. Clients of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin who were affected also showed strong stress reactions – ranging from uncontrollable tears to physical collapse.

And the fear for one’s own life is unfortunately not unfounded. A study by the British University of Gloucestershireshowed that in 358 investigated murder and manslaughter cases, stalking had preceded the crime in 94 per cent of cases. Stalking can therefore be a signal of a concrete threat to life and limb. Numerous examples can also be found in Germany: as recently as February 2019, a woman in Frankfurt was killed by her ex-boyfriend after he had stalked her for weeks.

What drives people to such extreme behaviour?

What Drives Stalkers?

More than fifty per cent of perpetrators are ex-partners of the victims – a statistical observation that corresponds with the experience of our Berlin detective office. Among other things, this has biological causes. After a separation, the body is in a state of shock. Happiness hormones such as serotonin suddenly disappear; the body attempts to compensate for the loss with an increased release of dopamine. As a result, so-called “frustration attraction” develops, meaning an individually perceived increase in a person’s attractiveness caused by their rejection or lack of interest. Love for the former partner suddenly grows stronger again, and the physical separation appears unbearable. Yet what is normal heartbreak for most people becomes an obsession for the stalker, a pathological behavioural disorder. Psychologists assume that stalkers’ difficulties in accepting the end of a relationship are primarily rooted in their childhood.

Stalkers often have not learned how to build trusting relationships and, due to negative experiences of separation, find it difficult to cope with rejection. When they are rejected again in adulthood, their reaction therefore resembles that of a small child, according to the aforementioned Dr. Jens Hoffmann. “The pursuit and angry protest of the stalker are clear signs of this.” A distorted perception of reality is also often the result; it serves to protect one’s own self-esteem and also occurs in many other contexts. Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin could tell many stories of employees who, after being confronted with undeniable evidence of their misconduct and the resulting dismissal, developed an absurdly distorted perception of themselves that bore no resemblance to factual reality. A self-critical examination of the painful separation is avoided at all costs. “The stalker then tells himself that the other person actually wants to be with him but does not show it. Or he assumes that it is a romantic game,” says Hoffmann. The psychotherapist Moritz Müller confirms this: “From a psychological perspective, stalking is the misguided coping with an inner distress, the feeling of powerlessness,” he explains. “What would actually be necessary is mourning.” And healthy self-reflection, one might add.

Relief not only through Detectives but also thanks to Qualified and Committed Counselling Centres

Counselling centres can help. Not only the victims, but also the perpetrators. It must be attempted to convey to the latter that the loss of a relationship does not entail the loss of the “core of one’s own identity”, says Müller. Reaching the perpetrator in time may make it possible to prevent the situation from escalating. Some stalkers are not even aware, without external psychological assistance, that their behaviour frightens their former partner and that there are better strategies for winning back an ex-partner. In addition, evaluating the perpetrator can often remove at least part of the victims’ fear. The Stalking Risk Profile, developed by English and Australian experts, serves to assess the risk posed by stalkers. Whether there is an increased risk of violence is assessed on the basis of “red flags” in the stalker’s behaviour and statements. These include, in addition to violent behaviour in previous relationships, psychotic symptoms such as delusions or pathologically jealous behaviour. Expressing suicidal intentions is also regarded as critical, as there is a danger that the stalker may plan to take the victim with them in death. Other signals include “all-or-nothing” statements such as “If I cannot have her, no one else will either.” However, evaluation according to this guideline must be treated with caution; it naturally cannot provide statements with one hundred per cent certainty regarding the perpetrators’ propensity for violence. In cases of doubt, the authorities or, in preparation for legal proceedings, competent private investigators should be contacted.

In general, when dealing with stalkers it is important to make it unequivocally clear that no further contact is desired. Afterwards, possibilities for contact, for example via social networks or mobile phones, should be reduced. For those at risk, the following applies: social media profiles in particular should be accessible only to people one knows personally. Scrolling through the latest activities of the victim can become a dangerous driving force for more serious compulsive actions. If the psychological burden becomes too great, it is advisable to contact a therapist. Naturally, Kurtz Investigations Berlin is also happy to assist affected clients in arranging contact with established support organisations.

Note

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin does not guarantee the accuracy or applicability of information on linked third-party pages.

Editor: Patrick Kurtz

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

"Someone has to do it."

The Berlin-born investigator Christian from Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin coaches Martern Boeselager from the VICE magazine Germany regarding surveillance tactics. In the form of a humorous social project under the motto "Civic Courage", Martern Boeselager approaches real surveillance practices in his extensive article and takes a satirical look at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

An excerpt with the passages involving our Berlin private detective Christian:

The Preparation – Practical Part

But enough studying! Now it is time for me to acquire in practice the skills that I would need for this assignment. To learn how to shadow real intelligence service employees without them immediately noticing me and stabbing me with their poisoned umbrellas, I need help from a professional.

Surveillance Tips from an Old Hand among Berlin Detectives: Inconspicuousness on Every Level

"The most important thing is not to be recognised," Christian from Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin explains to me. "They can see you, but they must not recognise you." Christian is a professional: the 49-year-old has been a private investigator for more than ten years; before that he worked as an undercover investigator with the police. He has agreed to explain shadowing to me – under real conditions.

For this purpose, I am simply supposed to visit him during an ongoing surveillance operation. And so it happens that on a rainy morning I am sitting with Christian in his black Audi at a street corner in Berlin-Schöneberg, waiting for an ex-convict to appear who may be holding his girlfriend captive (although she may also simply have moved in with him and her family does not like it – one cannot know for certain).

The Basics of Surveillance: Blending in with the Surroundings

While we wait, I ask Christian whether he considers it reckless that I want to shadow professional observers. "First of all, of course they do not expect that someone is on their tail," he says. "But I believe that through this work you develop a different view of your surroundings. For example, I am actually always scanning the people around me."

For that reason, it is particularly important always to adapt to the surroundings. "On Kurfürstendamm I am a tourist, in Grunewald I have a dog with me for a walk," Christian says. "Fitting into the surroundings, that is the be-all and end-all." Almost just as important: the right cover story. "You must always know for yourself: who are you right now? And what are you doing right now?"

The Right Distance

And then we move on to practical advice: the correct distance for shadowing someone on foot, for example. "You have to be close enough to notice everything, but far enough away not to be exposed," Christian explains. "Fifty metres, I would say, roughly speaking. If he turns a corner, you simply have to speed up a little." My advantage here is that our domestic intelligence officers currently seem to have difficulty recognising when someone somewhere is being chased or pursued. Perhaps that even applies when it happens to them themselves.

And one more thing: "The moment when everyone is most alert is when they are leaving their house," the detective says. "You always look: is everything all right, is everything normal? That is why you should never be too close to the front door of the flat." In my case, that means: I have to keep my distance from the building if I do not want to make the domestic intelligence officers who come out nervous.

After just under an hour the target object has still not appeared, but my crash course is finished. I thank Christian. I am ready, and I have to leave – for Cologne.

Note

The – considerably more extensive – original article by Martern Boeselager appeared in VICE. The emphasis (bold type), subheadings and links on this page may differ from the original.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Since last autumn, the Tagesspiegel journalist Kai Müller has been researching the topics of the detective profession in Germany, detective training and detectives in Berlin. For this purpose he also spoke with Patrick Kurtz, the owner of Kurtz Investigations Berlin. The article appeared under the title “The High Art of Snooping – Berlin Is the Capital of Private Detectives” with the introduction: “Spying on adulterers? Nonsense? That was yesterday. Nowhere are more private detectives trained than in Berlin. Yet there are things for which no one can prepare them.”

Below you will find a transcript of the passages concerning Patrick Kurtz and a case handled by the Kurtz detective agency. We recommend also reading the rest of the – quite extensive – article, as it examines the topic in greater detail than most other articles about detectives in recent years.

The Services of Investigators Are Sometimes Misused

It does happen that the services of investigators are misused. Patrick Kurtz became a detective after studying literature. “I have smoked a pipe since I was 14,” he says, referring to his youthful idol Sherlock Holmes. He recounts a case in which the true intention behind an assignment only became clear after it had been completed.

Kurtz had been commissioned by a large family to search for their missing daughter. The very first meeting had already been delicate. The parents complained that they were worried and did not know what to do. As the girl was older than 18, Kurtz explained that if he found her, he could only ask whether she wished to have contact with her family. Such are the requirements of personal rights. The family agreed. They signed the contract.a

Payment Is for the Search, Not for the Result

It was not difficult to trace the woman. As it turned out, she had disappeared together with her German boyfriend, whom her family considered unsuitable. Through tears, she asked the detectives not to disclose her whereabouts, as she feared becoming the victim of an honour killing.

Detectives sometimes have to act as advisers in life matters, Kurtz says. In this case he hoped to calm the situation. Knowing what the daughter had said might be better than knowing nothing at all. Or might it not? Now only the final formalities remained. The detective was invited by the parents to a restaurant in order to settle the payment.

Detectives conclude service contracts. Unlike contracts for work, these are not tied to an agreed result. Payment is made for the search, not for the finding.

As a precaution, Kurtz sent two colleagues. When they sat down with the parents at a table, more and more family members came from the rear areas of the restaurant and surrounded the two men. It was clear what they wanted: the location.

Note from Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Our investigation contracts contain a clause that preserves the rights of target persons who have sought protection or are still seeking protection – in state or federal protection programmes, in non-profit women’s or children’s shelters, with relatives and friends. Since a justified need to seek protection constitutes a highly important legal interest, it usually outweighs the legitimate interests of our clients. In such cases, information cannot be disclosed in order to protect the person sought.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

When a holiday literally goes down the drain, our detective agency helps with the investigation

Most working people relish their holidays more than anything else in the year; often the rest of the year is spent working towards Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, autumn breaks or the big summer holiday. All the more frustrating and disappointing is it when, on the crucial day, everything suddenly goes wrong. Recently, 73 prospective holidaymakers and their holiday funds were affected by such shattered holiday dreams: two scammers from Romania, who were operating from Berlin, defrauded more than €138,000 in total within just ten weeks. Using stolen photos of luxury properties and dream villas, the fraudsters persuaded their victims to book bargain holidays in enchanting locations. Hardly had payment been made than the money was transferred abroad, and the holidaymakers found themselves at false addresses without accommodation that would have cost between €400 and €3,100 (see Berliner Kurier). With the help of IT-savvy accomplices, the fraudsters succeeded in making their “holiday rentals” appear highly professional and luxurious; this explains why so many people agreed to pay the full rent in advance. Only the fraudsters’ bank put an end to their activities, filing a suspicious-money-laundering report because of the high incoming sums and their rapid onward transfers.

This type of holiday fraud is unfortunately not unique; our IHK-certified private detectives from Kurtz Investigations Berlin see various cases from time to time of disappointed holidaymakers who commission our services in order to recover their lost holiday money. Proving such fraud, however, is not easy, and recovering money already transferred is almost impossible unless a court case actually takes place. Our experienced investigators have many means at their disposal, however, to track down the fraudsters and convict them with evidence admissible in court: +49 30 5557 8641-0.

What Types of Holiday Fraud Exist? A Few Examples.

The case described above is only one of many, because people who build their wealth on harming others (i.e. fraudsters) are never short of new ideas for how to fleece honest citizens. These range from non-existent accommodation, as in the case of the two scammers mentioned above, to real apartments that are simultaneously let to as many as five families. Even large portals such as the now (rightly) much-criticised Airbnb are not immune to fraudsters; tempted by the prospect of living “like a local” in the centre of a metropolis and by the personal contact this implies, little suspicion is raised if the host becomes temporarily unreachable after the booking is made. But when the apartment bears no resemblance to the description and photos and holidaymakers find a filthy dump instead, the deposit has already vanished. Or you may stand at a door in a luxury apartment complex and be met with bewilderment by the residents because the flat is not, in fact, available to rent.

Because Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin operates internationally and has excellent contacts abroad, we can help victims of holiday fraudsters almost anywhere in the world quickly and effectively.

How Can I Best Protect Myself Against Holiday Scammers?

Alarm bells should ring for every holidaymaker when offers promise super-discounts, when it is claimed to be 50 per cent cheaper than the competition, when an advance payment is said to guarantee a striking price reduction (around 20–30 per cent), or sometimes when excessive time pressure is applied to the booking (“last chance”). Questionable, non-traceable payment methods and missing or excessively over-enthusiastic reviews can also indicate fraudulent offers. In general, it helps to be cautious. The dream villa on Lake Garda may sound lovely, but does it actually exist or is the property in reality located in an inaccessible war zone? Lake Garda can be checked with tools such as Google Maps to verify whether a building of the stated dimensions actually exists at the given address. Our corporate detectives in Berlin generally advise a healthy dose of scepticism for offers from lesser-known websites and providers.

The best protection is therefore not to trust every provider blindly but to do your homework beforehand: the larger and more well-known the booking platform, the more likely it is that detailed reviews exist, and the more conspicuous the absence of such reviews will be. Reputable providers often offer so-called “satisfaction guarantees” that can help you recover your money in the event of fraud. Thus, the quality and reliability of the booking platform are extremely important. Be particularly wary of newspaper adverts and private websites: there you have no guarantees and you conclude deals – often after friendly, familiar contact – with individuals who are unlikely to refund your deposit if things go wrong. As a rule, avoid holiday offers that can only be paid by bank transfer; reputable providers at least offer credit-card payment as an option. If you have already transferred money, make sure you at least have the name, account details and as much information about the provider as possible to give you a starting point in the event of fraud. Screenshots of the website, the imprint and the booked offer or printed copies of emails are additionally useful if our private detectives in Berlin are to hunt down the fraudsters.

Vacant Plot Instead of Dream Villa? If the Damage Has Already Occurred, Our Berlin Corporate Detectives Can Help.

If you suddenly cannot contact the provider or have already arrived and find a wreck, an over-occupied flat or simply locked doors, you should of course involve the police, as this may be holiday fraud. Authorities in Germany are not known for speed, and in many southern countries – the classic holiday regions – they are dramatically slower still, especially when it concerns “only” tourists.

Our detectives are not location-bound and are happy to help you in these and similar cases. We will advise you without obligation on our possible approach in your specific case, the expected costs and the prospects of success. You can reach us by e-mail via our contact form or at kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de and by telephone at: +49 30 5557 8641-0.

Author: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Clarifying Contract Violations and Criminal Offences

The use of detectives in the workplace is not unusual. It serves to uncover a wide range of contract violations and criminal offences and can therefore occur in many different scenarios (case examples from Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin can be found here). When employees are the focus of investigations, various legal requirements must be observed. Companies must comply with the statutory regulations.

Surveillance as a Justified Measure

In principle, employers may not have their employees monitored indiscriminately or at random, but only in the presence of a specific suspicion of wrongdoing. Moreover, this suspicion must be supported by facts. Mere assumptions are not sufficient. Limits for corporate clients of detectives are set by applicable employment law as well as by personal rights. Anyone who fails to observe these boundaries risks serious defeats before the labour court and may even face claims for damages. Consequently, it is essential to select investigators who not only understand their “craft” (surveillance and research) but also the legal framework and thus their own limits. Our private detective agency in Berlin relies on IHK-certified specialists who have learned the relevant legal foundations from the ground up.

Furthermore, our rule in cases of doubt is: better to consult our trusted lawyer once more than to rush blindly into a legally questionable case. This applies particularly to exceptional situations that deviate from everyday patterns. In this way, Kurtz Corporate Investigations Berlin can assure its clients that the findings of its investigations will stand up in court.

Test Purchases to Check Employees

To test whether employees provide truthful information, employers often conduct test purchases and so-called honesty tests. This is possible for all groups of employees whom the employer cannot verify in any other way. Cashiers, for example, may be tested by a detective carrying out a test purchase. Likewise, a corporate investigator may pose as a supplier to warehouse employees and deliver goods that differ from the delivery note. Undercover decoy operations are also frequently carried out by our Berlin private detectives in connection with such test purchases.

However, checking personal bags is only permissible with the consent of the person being checked. In addition, the works council must approve this measure in advance.

Surveillance During Sick Leave

Frequent or long periods of illness often prompt employers to have an employee monitored, as suspicion of fraud can arise from the circumstances. However, our corporate detectives in Berlin may only be commissioned if the employer possesses concrete indications that the employee is behaving in breach of contract. For instance, if the employee engages in activities that hinder recovery (behaviour contrary to recovery) or even works for another company during sick leave, the collected evidence may be presented in court.

Further assistance and information on employment law can be found at anwaltarbeitsrecht.com. The site also lists the relevant bar associations responsible for your region.

Author: Tobias Neumann

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Too Many Search Results for Clear Identification

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin has been commissioned by an Australian consortium of lawyers to locate Daniela Berger (likely born in 1973 or 1974) and Stephanie Berger, as these two women are named beneficiaries of the estate of Ursula Kurits.

Unfortunately, the available personal data relating to Daniela and Stephanie Berger is so limited that it is not possible to identify the correct heirs among the large number of people in Germany with the same name.

Personal Data of the Deceased and the Heirs

The deceased Ursula Kurits, born Foetzki, was born in Berlin in 1924. Her parents were Joseph Foetzki and Emma Kuehnau. She passed away in August 2016 in Sydney, Australia. Until his death in 1992 in Sydney, Ursula was married to Olaf (also Olof) Kurits. The couple emigrated to Australia in 1950.

Daniela Berger’s mother is or was named Petra, who was the niece of Mr Kurits. In the mid-1970s, mother and daughter travelled to Australia and visited the Kurits couple for approximately four to six weeks. At that time, Petra and Daniela Berger are believed to have been living in West Berlin.

It is unclear why the deceased named Daniela and Stephanie as heirs instead of Petra. It is possible that Petra Berger is no longer alive.

Stephanie is very likely another relative of Petra and Daniela.

You Can Help by Sharing This Appeal

The names Daniela and Stephanie Berger appear in the English-language will as heirs, but without further identifying details such as residential addresses, dates of birth or even places of residence. Our Australian clients and Kurtz Investigations Berlin kindly ask you to share this appeal in order to increase its reach and the likelihood that the heirs become aware of their inheritance claim. If you personally know a Daniela, Petra or Stephanie Berger, we would also ask you to inform that person about this search request.

Contact Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin with Information

If you have further information or if you are one of the persons sought, we would be pleased to hear from you: +49 30 5557 8641-0 or kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Recently, Patrick Kurtz, CEO of our Detective Agency in Berlin, Germany, gave an interview to Tony Andrews from Radio NPR. It was our chief investigator's first ever English interview. The two of them discussed private investigations in Berlin and in Germany in general and talked about a very special case containing a missing person and highly specialised man-trailing dogs. The following extract is taken from the original radio broadcast:

Preconditions for Private Investigations in Germany

Tony Andrews: "Berlin has a long history of being at the epicenter of espionage. And not only during the Cold War: Just this year construction on the new BND (Bundesnachrichten Dienst) spy headquarters was completed in the city. But what is less well-known is that Berlin also has the highest number of private detectives of any German city."

Patrick Kurtz: "I’ve always been a great fan of Sherlock Holmes, cliché I know."

Tony Andrews: "That’s private investigator Patrick Kurtz. Because he doesn’t have a license to kill, when a potential client approaches him, he has to first figure out whether the person has a right to the information they’re seeking."

Patrick Kurtz: "Is there a legal interest or at least a legitimate interest for the investigation?"

Tony Andrews: "Someone has a legal interest if money is involved: Debtors, employees, that kind of thing. A legitimate interest refers to family or people who live together. Wanting information about a stranger is technically called:"

Patrick Kurtz: "Some kind of stalking." 

Case Example: Missing Person from Baden-Württemberg

Tony Andrews: "Private investigations tend to be about unfaithfulness, alimony, and – sometimes – missing persons. Patrick tells me about this one case he can’t forget. A couple from Baden-Württemberg called him one day because their autistic son had disappeared."

Patrick Kurtz: "They told me that they are missing their son. He’s been missing for I think it was four days."

Tony Andrews: "The boy left a letter in which he explained that he was running away because he couldn’t cope with school."

Patrick Kurtz: "In that letter he also told his family that he is going to kill himself."

Tony Andrews: "Patrick started the search at the boy’s last known location."

Patrick Kurtz: "He used a credit card and got money from cash machines so we knew he must have been in Düsseldorf." 

Chasing the Trace: Man-trailing dogs in Germany

Tony Andrews: "Then he brought in some dogs. Some man-trailing dogs to sniff some of the missing boy’s clothes to find the trail."

Patrick Kurtz: "They immediately know the trace no matter how many other smells you have around."

Tony Andrews: "That blew my mind. These dogs can identify your smell at a public place, among hundreds, even thousands of other smells."

Patrick Kurtz: "After days, weeks, and even after months."

A Study in Blood

Tony Andrews: "Anyway, so they followed the trail to a nearby hotel."

Patrick Kurtz: "We explained the situation to them [the hotel employees] and they were helping us."

Tony Andrews: "The dogs led them up to one of the rooms."

Patrick Kurtz: "Then we knocked at the door. No-one answered."

Tony Andrews: "Hotel staff used the master key to open the door and then they walked in."

Patrick Kurtz: "We saw the son that we were looking for and he was lying head down on the bed with blood all over."

Tony Andrews: "He didn’t react."

Patrick Kurtz: "But then we tested to see if he’s still alive and he was alive, gladly. We saw that he had tried to kill himself by cutting himself. After some time we got him to some kind of consciousness."

The satisfying feeling of solving a case

Tony Andrews: "The team got to him on time. I asked Patrick how that made him feel. He just said:"

Patrick Kurtz: "It’s a good feeling to save a life of course."

Tony Andrews: "What he may have meant to say was:"

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

Are you looking for a Private Investigator in Germany?

Should you as a private person or as an accountable employee be in need of private or commercial investigations in Germany, Kurtz Investigations Berlin will gladly help you with their widespread network of qualified investigators all over the country: +49 30 5557 8641-0 or kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de.

Kurtz Investigations Berlin, Germany

Rykestraße 26

D-10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

For the format "M19 – the Long Interview" of the radio station Mephisto 97.6, Patrick Kurtz, owner of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin, spoke for an hour with editor-in-chief Paula Drope about the detective profession. In the first part, the discussion focuses primarily on typical clichés that circulate about private detectives.

What Does a Typical Detective Office Look Like?

Paula Drope: "A very good evening! It will be exciting in my studio today. Just imagine a shabby back room in black and white, an old leather armchair and in front of it a large desk. You are welcome to imagine my studio tonight in exactly this atmosphere. I certainly have this image in mind when I picture a detective office. How many of these detective clichés actually hold true is what I would like to discuss over the next hour with Patrick Kurtz. He is the owner of the Kurtz private detective agency in Berlin. I am very pleased that you are here, Mr Kurtz."

Patrick Kurtz: "I am pleased as well."

Paula Drope: "I have just conjured up the image of a back room in black and white. Is your detective office also black and white?"

Patrick Kurtz: "It is not black and white. But I can confirm the armchair part: I have Chesterfield armchairs in my office and a large desk. The armchairs are not quite that old, however."

Paula Drope: "But does the cliché roughly apply to you?"

Patrick Kurtz: "Well, it is not a back-yard room. It is a room facing the garden where I work. I think quite a few clichés are confirmed for clients who come in there, because of the heavy armchairs, the large desk and also the pictures on the wall. For example, I have a souvenir from the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street in London: a picture of Sherlock Holmes hangs in the detective office. And various other items that remind one of him."

Paula Drope: "You, dear listeners, can of course also take a look at this office. We have photos and articles about this programme and about this office on our homepage mephisto976.de. You can have a look there after this broadcast."

Research or Surveillance? Detective Work Is Not Only Action but Also a Great Deal of Desk Work.

Paula Drope: "In your office you probably spend a lot of time pondering different cases, I imagine. What does the typical day of a private detective look like? What does your typical day look like?"

Patrick Kurtz: "My typical day differs somewhat from the typical day of my colleagues. Because I am the managing director and the owner of the business, I have to deal with many organisational matters. That means I usually start the PC in the morning, check emails, plan assignments and review reports. I am now only rarely out on the street conducting surveillance myself. The main income of most detectives actually comes from conducting surveillance in the field. I do that only rarely these days. Accordingly, my routine differs a bit. What I mostly do at home, during visits to authorities or in other locations, is research. For example, researching addresses that need to be found, debtors who are delinquent and have moved away, or family members who are to be located. I deal with such matters more often. That is more desk work."

Of Contacts and Athletic Detectives

Paula Drope: "It has already sounded as though you mainly work at your desk. That is also because you have many staff members – up to 50 freelance staff. You run an internationally operating detective agency. What belongs to such an agency? If I speak in terms of the Three Investigators: you would probably be the first detective Justus Jonas, and who would then be the second detective and who does the research work?"

Patrick Kurtz: "The Three Investigators are not really my field. Research is done by many different people. Often these are on-site investigations, which means I need my colleagues on site who carry out those enquiries. Matters involving visits to authorities, research via the internet or through contacts – for example contacts with officials – are handled by a few people who actually have those contacts. I would count myself among them. The second detective in the Three Investigators – what exactly is his role?"

Paula Drope: "I have always wondered about that as well. He is simply the second detective and the athletic one of the two. So Peter Shaw is the athletic one."

Patrick Kurtz: "I see. I do not think I have that many athletic employees, I must say."

Paula Drope: "So car chases do happen then …"

Patrick Kurtz: "… in cars, which is precisely the problem. One spends a lot of time sitting around, and accordingly there is not much time left for sport."

Detective Work Today Is Teamwork | Detective Team Berlin

Paula Drope: "And perhaps once more the question: What exactly defines a detective agency, as opposed perhaps to the lone detective working in a back room?"

Patrick Kurtz: "Teamwork is crucial, simply because one cannot have contacts everywhere, in every city and with every authority. One also cannot be familiar with every location, and during surveillance you always need support. There are certainly surveillance operations that we carry out with only one observer, especially for private clients. However, whenever matters move into the commercial sphere, we generally say that we need at least two people, because the risk of being recognised is simply too great if you follow someone alone. One has to maintain the balance between keeping visual contact and not being seen oneself. That is difficult if you cannot take turns. That is why detective work today is teamwork."

Detective Work Today Is Teamwork | Detective Team Berlin

Paula Drope: "And perhaps once more the question: What exactly defines a detective agency, as opposed perhaps to the lone detective working in a back room?"

Patrick Kurtz: "Teamwork is crucial, simply because one cannot have contacts everywhere, in every city and with every authority. One also cannot be familiar with every location, and during surveillance you always need support. There are certainly surveillance operations that we carry out with only one observer, especially for private clients. However, whenever matters move into the commercial sphere, we generally say that we need at least two people, because the risk of being recognised is simply too great if you follow someone alone. One has to maintain the balance between keeping visual contact and not being seen oneself. That is difficult if you cannot take turns. That is why detective work today is teamwork."

The Long Interview about Detectives – Part 2

The second part can be found here.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

At the beginning of the week, Kurtz Investigations Berlin received a call from the owner of a medium-sized Berlin company. One of his employees had requested leave for the coming Thursday, Friday and Monday and, after the employer had declined the request, reported sick. Normally the company had no problem granting employees leave for important appointments, but this request had simply come too late to find a replacement for a scheduled tour (it was a logistics company). The tour would therefore have had to be cancelled and the entrepreneur would have lost revenue had he granted the leave. Because the coincidence between the rejected holiday request and the sudden illness appeared suspicious to the employer, and because similar incidents with this employee had already occurred several times, he commissioned the detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin to investigate the employee.

Busy Target Person Runs Numerous Errands During the Surveillance by Detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

At midday on Monday, the target person of our corporate investigators from Berlin had requested leave, received the rejection in the afternoon after the end of the tour, left the company premises in good health and informed the employer by telephone on Tuesday morning that he had been signed off sick for the next six calendar days. On Wednesday morning, our Berlin private investigators began the surveillance at the employee’s residence.

After an inconspicuous visit to the bakery and a return to the flat, the target person (TP) entered his vehicle at around 09:30 and over the course of the day drove to various supermarkets, shops for leisure and camping equipment and a DIY store – all naturally observed by the investigators of Kurtz Investigations Berlin. In most cases the TP left the respective shop with various items or well-filled shopping trolleys. These observations suggested an interesting development of the case, and indeed in the late afternoon, after completing all purchases, the TP drove to a garage complex and loaded all the purchased items into a camper van. Afterwards the TP returned to his flat.

As no further events had been observed by 20:00, the two deployed detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin ended the surveillance and were relieved by another colleague for the night shift. It is quite unusual to conduct surveillance at night during investigations concerning suspected abuse of sick leave, but due to the issue involving the camper van the operations management of Kurtz Investigations Berlin wanted to be on the safe side. The two withdrawn detectives were placed on standby.

Meeting at Dawn, Departure with a Caravan

The decision by the operations management proved to be a stroke of luck for the clients of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin, because at dawn – even before the originally scheduled start of surveillance – the TP left his flat and drove to the garage complex, where four additional persons with large amounts of luggage, food and drinks were already waiting. Everything was loaded together into the motorhome. Meanwhile our observer informed the two other detectives that they urgently needed to support him. However, the TP and the four unknown persons (UP) departed only a few minutes later before the colleagues could relieve our single vehicle observer.

The journey led straight past Potsdam onto the A9 motorway heading south. The two requested detectives followed at maximum speed, but due to the unfavourable traffic conditions on that day they rarely had the opportunity to drive significantly faster than the camper van they were trying to catch up with. Only at a motorway service area near Münchberg in Upper Franconia did the TP and the UP make their first stop, allowing the pursuing detectives from Berlin finally to catch up and relieve their exhausted colleague. At that point he had already been observing for more than 13 hours, ten of which had passed completely without incident. From Münchberg he then began his return journey home while the newly arrived observers took over.

Journey Ends at the Hockenheimring, Loss of Visual Contact

Our corporate detectives from Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin then followed the TP and the UP to the Hockenheimring near Mannheim, where the band “Böhse Onkelz” was performing two comeback concerts on each of the two weekends, with an estimated total of 300,000 tickets sold. Upon arriving at the site, the TP’s motorhome drove onto the campsite, which our detectives from Berlin could not immediately follow because they had neither a concert ticket nor a camping ticket. A few minutes later, the operations centre of Kurtz Investigations Berlin researched that according to the organiser tickets should still be available at the sales points on site for that weekend and that access to the campsite was only possible with a concert ticket. Fortunately, there were still remaining tickets available at the box office that day, but by the time these had been obtained our observers had already long lost visual contact with the TP.

Searching for a Needle in a Haystack: Finding a Specific Caravan on a Campsite

The deployed detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin had no choice but to search the campsite for the TP’s vehicle after gaining access to the camping area. By the time the vehicle was finally located it was already getting dark and the camper van was unoccupied. At least our investigators managed to secure a small campsite with visual contact to the target vehicle. The problem: they had no tents with them. Fortunately a tent was quickly obtained, as various vendors had positioned themselves in the immediate vicinity of the venue. One detective set up the tent while the other observed the camper van.

Only at around 01:00 did the TP and the UP return, heavily intoxicated, enjoy one more beer each in front of the bus with considerable noise and then went to sleep, partly in tents and partly in the vehicle. Since the tent had been erected, the surveillance had been conducted in shifts: one corporate investigator observed while the other attempted – largely unsuccessfully due to the noise – to sleep.

Anyone Who Is Sick and Celebrates Acts Contrary to Recovery.

The next day (Friday) the travel group around the supposedly sick employee slowly came to life around 11:00. During the course of the day they spent almost the entire time sitting, drinking, apparently consuming marijuana judging by the smell, grilling and eating. The TP also repeatedly used various fences to relieve himself and loudly sang songs by “Böhse Onkelz” again and again – often accompanied by music from a playback device they had brought with them, though sometimes without it. In the early evening the group went for a walk and repeatedly joined other campers for short periods to consume further soft drugs. The TP did not attend the concert that evening, which meant the ticket purchased by our Berlin detectives expired unused.

Jumping, Dancing and Pushing at the Concert

Anticipating this possibility, our private investigators from Berlin had purchased one ticket each for Friday and Saturday and would therefore have been able to follow the TP onto the concert grounds if he had decided to attend on Saturday instead. On this day the visibly exhausted group took things somewhat more quietly. Everyone appeared a little worn out, slept a great deal and drank significantly less.

Two hours before the official start of the concert, the TP and the UP proceeded to the entrance and pushed themselves quite far forward in the queues of fans, so that our investigator, who also had entry with the remaining concert ticket, could follow only with difficulty. During the band’s show the TP proved extremely lively, dancing, jumping and bumping into other concert visitors in a kind of group choreography, which these participants apparently welcomed and enthusiastically returned. No physical limitations could be observed in the TP whatsoever.

For reasons of personal safety in the very physical environment among the concert visitors, our corporate investigator from Berlin withdrew to the rear rows and left the concert early in order to intercept the TP at the exit. Although the TP was missed there due to the enormous crowds returning to the campsite, the detective who had remained at the tent was ultimately able to observe the TP again at the camper van. Another good two hours of singing loudly and excessive drinking followed before the group finally went to sleep.

Summary Dismissal Based on the Court-Admissible Evidence Collected by Our Berlin Detectives

On Sunday the group finally began the return journey to Berlin, where the TP and our investigators arrived in the early evening. The surveillance was then terminated, as the evidence collected up to that point was already overwhelming and further observation was no longer necessary to achieve the objective of the assignment. The fact that the TP had requested leave for the following Monday could likely be explained by the intention to use that day to sober up (during the return journey one of the UP drove the entire time) and recover.

On the next working day the employee pretending to be ill was greeted with summary dismissal upon entering the workplace. The “Onkelz” concert therefore proved to be a very costly pleasure, because apart from the costs of the weekend the employer and the target person also agreed that the employee who had fraudulently called in sick would reimburse the detective costs. At least he was thus able to avoid another potentially expensive court case.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Thanks to good contacts with bank employees, Mr J. himself had already been able to determine the seller’s address from the bank account to which he had transferred the money. The address belongs to an asylum seeker accommodation.

A Berlin private investigator now sets out to verify this address. Due to the generally good relations in Berlin between the security sector and the detective industry, the detective of Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin receives information from the responsible security staff that the target person had indeed lived there but had already moved to another accommodation facility in Berlin several weeks earlier. The security officer provides our Berlin investigator with the address of the new residence.

At this second accommodation facility the security service again proves cooperative and reports that the target person had lived there until two weeks earlier. However, he had then attacked one of the security officers with a weapon. Although nothing happened to the colleague, the target person was no longer allowed to remain in that facility and had to move once more. This security employee also provides the private investigator of Kurtz Investigations Berlin with the new address. This third accommodation facility is likewise located within the Berlin city area, which allows the investigation to be completed within only a few hours.

In order to protect discretion and the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been altered beyond recognition.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

We need your help, are grateful for any information and ask you to share this appeal.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

In order to protect discretion and the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been altered beyond recognition.

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Neither tall nor short, neither broad nor slender, neither ugly nor handsome did the man in the doorway appear, and yet in an inexplicable manner he seemed extraordinary. Had he not leaned heavily upon a walking stick that deprived him of several inches of height, I might even then have noticed his truly exceptional stature. Appearances can deceive even the most perceptive mind, especially when they possess the audacity to ensnare it in circumstances of unclear thinking.

What, despite the absurdity of the apparition, struck the mind most strongly were the eyes – emeralds from the depths of the earth, sparkling green as only a diamond of primordial age could be. These small, piercing and yet graceful eyes had seen much: suffering and pain, power and greed, despair and death.
Deep as the trenches of the oceans they appeared, unfathomable and yet so open as though inviting any bold soul to attempt their exploration, well aware that whoever undertook the effort must inevitably fail. They offered a glimpse into an almost infinite accumulation of knowledge, as though within this immense library one might research the answer to any question, discover within it the solution to every mystery in the history of humankind.

Slowly, bent by age and supported by that walking stick of such graceful beauty as only a master carver could produce, the figure now advanced towards me. The glass of Scotch in my right hand began cautiously to tremble, at first only slightly, then with increasing intensity – from my youth I had always been fond of the delightful burning in the throat, especially a pleasant dram of Bowmore, preferably twelve years old, distilled on the fertile island of Islay, which belongs to the Inner Hebrides, with its smoky, peaty note and its dry sherry flavour, diluted by a single, necessarily tiny cube of ice, never by soda, had brightened many an evening for me. The book in my left hand sank upon my knees; the pipe in my mouth threatened to fall upon the velvet carpet at my feet.

What unrestrained force, what dreadful strength despite the apparent frailty, what captivating presence emanated from the stranger! Darkness and fear settled over my trembling head.

In my own chamber I had become the slave of a complete stranger; whatever he might have demanded of me, in that moment I would not have been capable of resisting his will. He was my master entirely; I his servant, submissive, humiliated, incapable of any objection. His will would have been my command, this I cannot deny, even should one call me a coward.

Fear that he might lead me upon an endless journey through the darkness of the human abyss penetrated my feeble mind.

Directly before my armchair the unknown man suddenly stopped. I did not dare to make the slightest movement or even address a word to him; I could not even muster the courage to continue looking into his eyes, for the authority of his person filled me with dread.

A moment of breathless silence, then a sudden change in his posture – I had not the faintest idea what it was, only perceiving a movement from the corner of my eye. Rigid with fear, I threw myself back into my armchair, letting book, glass and pipe fall, and in a single breath sweated out all the alcohol that had until then made the evening so pleasant. A surge of adrenaline rushed through my body. I shook off my stupor. If ever in my long existence I have truly been possessed of presence of mind, it must have been in those seconds.

Like a dark shadow a certainty spread within my heart: this could only be my end; nothing but terror and death would remain for me. I must have cut a most miserable figure indeed, my eyes tightly closed, whimpering in fear, awaiting my destruction.

Yet what happened – not merely in part, but entirely – was at first something quite the opposite.

Suspiciously I blinked towards the figure, still expecting the cruel blow of an iron fist. Slowly my eyes, which had been squeezed almost shut, widened again, brimming with relief at the unexpected fortune of being permitted once more to behold the face of the world among the living. Yet this sight did nothing to restore my speech, for just as strongly as I had felt fear of what might come, I was now filled with astonishment and shame at my foolish dread.
For in truth there was merely a hand extended towards me in greeting.”

from Aidan Johnstone and Patrick Kurtz: “Livingstone’s Mahnung”, © Patrick Kurtz

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin

Bell: “Well, my man, you’ve served in the army.”

Man: “Aye, Sir.”

“Not long discharged?”

“No, Sir.”

“A Highland regiment?”

“Aye, Sir.”

“A non-commissioned officer.”

“Aye, Sir.”

“Stationed at Barbados.”

“Aye, Sir.”

“You see, gentlemen,” he would explain, “the man was a respectful man but did not remove his hat. They do not in the army, but he would have learned civilian ways had he been long discharged. He has an air of authority and he is obviously Scottish. As to Barbados, his complaint is elephantiasis, which is West Indian and not British.” To his audience of Watsons it all seemed very miraculous until it was explained, and then it became simple enough. It is no wonder that after the study of such a character I used and simplified his methods when in later life I tried to build up a scientific detective who solved cases on his own merits.

(Compare this with the analysis of a person in the story “The Greek Interpreter” by Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes in the Diogenes Club.)

There are numerous such stories about Joe Bell. Among other things, it is said that he captured Jack the Ripper together with his colleague Dr Littlejohn. It is also told that Bell’s hair turned from deep black to bright white overnight after the death of his beloved wife. When the later British Nobel Prize laureate Rudyard Kipling read the first Holmes novel “A Study in Scarlet”, he turned to Conan Doyle in admiration and asked: “Isn’t he my old friend, Dr Joe?”

Dr Joe Bell was an outstanding physician, logician and criminalist – and an excellent role model. Not only for Sherlock Holmes.

Incidentally: in Aidan Johnstone’s “Livingstones Mahnung”, Dr Joseph Bell makes a brief appearance.

For those interested, here is a YouTube link to a documentary about Joe Bell

The highly recommended Bell biography by Liebow:

http://www.amazon.de/Dr-Joe-Bell-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/0879721987

Kurtz Detective Agency Berlin

Rykestraße 26

10405 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 555 786 41-0

Fax: +49 30 555 786 41-9

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-berlin.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-berlin.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-berlin