Employee Theft Investigation – Atlanta Georgia

I’m often called upon to train new hires in this field on how to conduct an employee theft investigation. One of the first pieces of “off the record” advice I usually give is this: keep your distance. No matter how professional we are we all have feelings. No matter how strong your convictions are about right and wrong there is always the possibility of compromise, or worse, the assumption of impropriety.

Way back when I first started in this line of work I made fast friends with a cashier in the store I was assigned. We went to lunch together, had deep personal conversations, the works. One day one of the other detectives observed her slipping some extra merchandise in the bag for a family member. We began an employee theft investigation and I called her in for an interview. She confessed immediately. She cried, I cried, we all cried. It was a blubber-fest. In the end I recommended the termination of my very good friend and felt like a heel for months afterwards.

In another example, I had developed a friendship with an older gentleman; a war vet. (I love the stories the old veterans tell) Time passed and it became obvious that he was committing fraudulent returns and pocketing the money. Again I began an employee theft investigation, but this time called in a colleague to do the interview. I was so angry because I felt he had used his relationship with me to garner favor and enable him to continue his criminal activity. Now I’m not saying that this is a hard and fast rule that you must follow, however I believe that maintaining a professional barrier will make things easier for you when conducting an employee theft investigation.

For more information contact us at Employee Theft Investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia