Skip Tracing Locate Missing Person Find Someone

Skip Tracing 101 – Part III  ( posted in Miami Florida ) 

Laws in most states forbid persons from representing themselves as investigators if they are not. As a matter of fact most state laws forbid persons from looking into the whereabouts or reputation of persons and entities as part of their normal course of business; if not licensed as a private investigator. Please read the laws in your state’s appropriate Rules and Regulations, and Statutes.
How to locate neighbors. If you plan to canvass a neighborhood, get a map. When you are in the neighborhood pay close attention to all adjacent properties to your subject’s house or apartment. You will want to talk with at least several persons on each side of your target, as well as behind the TARGET and across the street. If you plan to use a telephone here’s what you will have to do. Go to a library (or call first) near the target. At the reference desk ask for the Reverse Directory for the area. A Reverse Directory is like a telephone book but backwards. Instead of looking up someone’s to get an address and number, you look up the address or telephone number first. Like a telephone directory, they will not be complete. Make sure you are looking at the most current one as well as the one dated to when your subject lived at the target. Some of the names for the reverse directories are The Blue Book and Haine’s Directory. They are used mostly by people and companies who produce mailing lists for mail solicitation. Remember to photocopy all appropriate pages or take careful notes.
Contacting Neighbors in an apartment building.This can be difficult, but maybe necessary. If you plan to canvass the building, you first have to get inside. This can get you in trouble if you go about it in the wrong way. How you gain access will be dependent on the trespassing laws in your state. Most states trespassing laws state that any area commonly accessible to the general public is not considered trespassing unless otherwise noted. And by all means DO NOT BREAK THE LAW TO GAIN ACCESS INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING! Not only can you get arrested, but it is possible that it may be brought up in court as it pertains to your manner of collecting your judgment. The judge or jury may not be happy with your behavior and hence find against you. It is best to get permission to enter the building. If you can sweet talk your way into the building via the building’s manager, you probably will be safe. Remember to note the name and physical description of the person who let you in. If there is a security guard on duty you might be out of luck. These guys, in general, are very difficult to deal with. They seem to get pleasure out of making things difficult or unpleasant for people. Again, here’s where a professional would have the advantage. A security guard might very well be a P.I. wanna-be and would love nothing more than to aid in the investigation of one of the previous ”bad tenants” tenants.
Last words of advice: Be discreet, Be professional, Be thorough. Good Luck!
Click here for a printable skip tracing form and checklist.

Tip:
Always look your best. Be clean and neat. You will be judged constantly. If you look like a looser, you probably will be treated as such. Also, dress appropriately or dress in a style that the neighbors can identify with. If you plan to canvas a “Blue Collar” neighborhood, don’t dress like like an attorney; forgo the gray suit with a white shirt, and opt for a more casual look. If the neighborhood you are canvassing is upper middle class a suit may be more appropriate. Use your best judgment. will also want to contact the persons living in your subject’s old home or the owner of the home. If your subject rented the property you will certainly want to contact his landlord. First, find out who owns the property. This can be done by contacting the appropriate county tax assessor. Provide the clerk (either by mail or in person; they rarely give info over the telephone) with the address of the property. They will, in turn, provide you with the NAME and billing address of the person responsible for paying the tax bill. This, presumably, is the owner. If it is the subject’s previous landlord, ask if he or she will kindly provide you with any information of the subject. This may include an application, which hopefully will show his SS#, DOB, employment, previous addresses, references, spouse, etc. *If the subject was the owner of the property, or better yet, IS the owner, you may get some information from the current owner, or if you speak with the tenant ask the tenant where they send the rent check. But again be careful, you do not want to spook you subject into hiding. Use a ruse if you’re speaking with your subject’s tenants. by infoguys

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