Janet König from the Lippische Landes Zeitung interviewed detective Patrick Kurtz of the Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld and East Westphalia about the work of his investigators in the Lippe region:

Lippische Landes Zeitung: "How Private Detectives in Lippe Really Work"

Lippe District. Seventeen hours in a car at 35°C, staring at a door from which no one emerges — that was probably the most boring assignment Patrick Kurtz ever had in his career as a private detective. "You need staying power," he says with a smile. But that’s far from all. Above all, perseverance and creativity are required. Kurtz has been working as a professional investigator for seven years. By now, the 31-year-old from Thuringia has built a large, nationwide detective agency with 29 locations. The Lippe district is one of his regular operational areas.

But can a rural region even be lucrative for a professional investigator? At least when it comes to clients such as married couples who suspect infidelity and seek certainty, Lippe is not exactly a hotspot, says Kurtz. In general, the district is not the strongest area for private cases. "I wouldn’t want to give up the location, though, because it’s home to several economically strong companies that are our clients," he explains. In these cases, the work often involves the covert observation of employees. Only when employers have a valid reason or suspicion is it legally permissible to hire a private detective to monitor employees. "It’s always about weighing which interest takes precedence and whether we must protect personal rights," says Kurtz.

"Black sheep" damage the industry’s reputation

The Kurtz Detective Agency therefore reserves the right to decline assignments — something not all agencies do. Many "black sheep" have damaged the reputation of private investigators through dubious offers. "That’s partly because our profession is not politically regulated," Kurtz explains. As a result, there are some who don’t take the law very seriously. But what exactly are detectives legally allowed to do? "The same laws apply to us as to any citizen," Kurtz says. Investigations are conducted exclusively in public spaces. It would be unthinkable to photograph or wiretap a target in private premises. "What you see in some TV shows is completely unrealistic," he adds. Breaking into a residence constitutes trespassing — and a private detective doing so could face even harsher penalties.

An inconspicuous car that can accelerate quickly if necessary, a camera with a telephoto lens, and a smartphone are part of the essential standard equipment of a detective. The latter is both a blessing and a curse for an unregulated profession, Kurtz admits. While it’s useful to discreetly photograph a target in a café, smartphones have also "stolen" some assignments, since online research has become so much easier. "A lot of information is easily accessible nowadays — you don’t always need a detective for that."

No guarantee of success

Kurtz’s clients come from all walks of life, though his services don’t come cheap. There’s no guarantee of success — objectivity must be maintained, otherwise any findings would be worthless in court. Each case is billed by the hour. These days, Patrick Kurtz rarely works in the field himself, except on international cases. As chief investigator, he coordinates operations from headquarters, managing and consulting with the field investigators. Most of "his detectives" are small one-person subcontractors. "That’s the only feasible way, since the workload fluctuates enormously." The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the second lockdown, also hit the detective industry hard, as the public sphere — their main workplace — virtually disappeared. "Surveillance makes up a large part of our job," Kurtz notes. These operations often last for many hours, requiring constant focus. "You can’t let your mind wander — something could happen at any moment," he says. Missing a crucial second could mean losing valuable evidence for the client.

The work becomes especially challenging when the target is on the move or when there are no obvious leads. Once, a middle-aged couple contacted the agency after being terrorized by anonymous letters from their neighbors. The reason seemed trivial: they had both left their previous spouses for each other. "That wasn’t socially accepted in the village," Kurtz recalls. With the help of a tracking dog, he and his team managed to identify the letter writer by following the scent trail of the mail carrier. "That’s only possible if you have a strong network of contacts and specialists," he explains — "otherwise, you’re lost in this profession."

Fascinated by Sherlock Holmes

Expertise and experience are essential in this line of work. Yet Kurtz stumbled into the profession by chance. "I actually studied European Literatures and had some free time before starting my master’s degree," he says. He wanted to use that time productively. When a detective agency rejected his internship application out of disinterest, it only motivated him more. "I was already fascinated by Sherlock Holmes at 13 — that played a role too." Still, career changers like him are rare, and the average age in the profession is much higher. Many private investigators are former professionals from law enforcement, intelligence, or other investigative authorities who moved to the private sector for various reasons. Some left because they could no longer tolerate institutional issues; others "probably not entirely voluntarily," Kurtz adds wryly. Building a trustworthy network of investigators wasn’t easy. "Reliability is my top priority." The lack of young recruits, however, is a growing concern — not just for him but for the entire industry.

For outsiders, the job of a private detective often carries a certain mystique. "Many people find it fascinating," Kurtz admits. The fact that every case is unique makes the work even more varied — though many assignments involve infidelity, custody disputes, or suspected sick-leave fraud. The fieldwork can be large-scale — and sometimes dangerous. "Covert surveillance is a craft you have to learn. If the target realizes they’re being followed, things can get tense," he says. "Some people get angry — but we’re just the documentarians." Characterising himself a "information junkie," Kurtz says his curiosity is what drew him to the profession. Unlike many of his colleagues, he’s open about discussing his work. "A lot of people have a distorted view of private detectives — I want to change that."

Note

The original article by Janet König appeared in the Lippische Landes Zeitung. Emphases (bold text) and hyperlinks on this page may differ from the original.

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