Solving Property Offences against Companies

A truly thievish pleasure must have been felt by a Bielefeld flight attendant working for Germany’s fourth-largest airline, Condor, as he literally "fished" out cash packages worth more than 100,000 euros over several months. So-called safety bags are filled on board with proceeds from in-flight sales and stored in specially locked safes after landing – in theory, a theft-proof system. However, the flight attendant managed to bypass the device using inserted fishing hooks and thus secure his lucrative loot. This theft was uncovered by Bielefeld’s criminal police after the company’s management discovered that a total of nine such packages had disappeared in recent months. As the investigators found bundles of cash in the offender’s flat and recent deposits exceeding 50,000 euros in his account, he is now under investigation for aggravated theft (§ 243 German Criminal Code).

In 2014 alone, there were more than 136,000 reported cases of thefts from offices, warehouses and company premises in Germany; the number of unreported cases is likely much higher, since some companies either fail to notice minor thefts or keep them quiet for fear of reputational damage or bad press – opting instead to clarify matters internally, for instance with the help of Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld (+49 521 2567 0055). Our corporate investigators assist all types of companies in uncovering seemingly inexplicable annual losses, disappearing stock and missing cash – in short: embezzlement and theft within the business. Frequently, the perpetrators are found among the company’s own staff (employee crime), particularly when there has been no recent break-in that could explain the disappearance of valuables, cash, materials or goods.

Assessing Risk Potential Correctly

Many business owners remain unaware of the growing threat posed by their own employees: various statistics indicate that property crimes against companies – despite the major factor of shoplifting – are committed in more than half of all cases not by outsiders but by staff who know work processes and security loopholes better than anyone else. Some companies are particularly careless with passwords, keys or door codes, which in most cases are not changed immediately after employees leave. Former staff thus find, quite literally, doors and gates open to them, allowing them to enter offices discreetly and either take revenge on a disliked superior for being dismissed or simply enrich themselves illegally. Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg: much more frequently, theft and embezzlement occur during everyday work by supposedly loyal employees, as our IHK-certified private detectives in Bielefeld can report from extensive experience in this investigative field. What often begins as the seemingly harmless appropriation of pens and notepads can easily escalate into the regular theft of larger sums of money. In practice, six-figure losses spread over months or years are not uncommon even among cashiers – to say nothing of offenders in higher positions with greater authority!

All too often, thefts in the corporate environment are either not detected at all or discovered far too late, making it impossible to identify a culprit, leaving the company bearing the loss and the uncertainty regarding the integrity of its workforce. It is therefore of utmost importance for every business to eliminate loopholes for thieves, maintain a reliable and properly meticulous accounting system, and, in case of loss, to commission trustworthy investigators such as our commercial detectives in Bielefeld. We are strong partners at your side when your company suffers from employee-related crimes and will gladly advise you after the investigation on how to prevent similar incidents and increase general security within your business premises.

Establishing Control Mechanisms – Especially in Companies with High Staff Turnover

The smaller the company, the less likely management tends to expect theft. Yet a family-like atmosphere and a small, seemingly loyal team can create a dangerously false sense of security. No matter how firmly management believes or hopes that “something like that could never happen here”: theft among employees occurs even in the most harmonious workplaces. Kindness and trust do not protect against dishonest staff – only strong control mechanisms, high safety standards and deterrence do. It can even be beneficial to inform the workforce afterwards about a detective operation (see the linked example from detective colleagues in Leipzig). Our Bielefeld commercial detectives conduct a wide range of investigations for businesses (overviews available here and here), identify offenders and present legally admissible evidence: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bielefeld.de.

In addition to the factors already mentioned, a high turnover of staff – for example, among interns, trainees, seasonal workers, volunteers or temporary employees – can also contribute to an increased number of property offences in the company without management even realising it. Employees hired only for a short period often feel little to no identification with the business and are therefore more willing to commit offences damaging to the company. After all, they will soon be gone, and in nine months no one will remember them anyway – or so the thinking goes. Our detectives in East Westphalia therefore recommend creating trust structures while simultaneously emphasising the clear consequences of theft and other misconduct in the workplace. The personal background of job candidates also plays a decisive role, which is why pre-employment checks conducted by Kurtz Investigations Bielefeld often prove a worthwhile preventive measure.

Legally Sound Evidence Documentation by Qualified Detectives

If you or your accounting department notice discrepancies in your figures, balance sheets, stock levels or revenues that cannot be explained, you are likely dealing with a "magpie" within your company. But how should you proceed? If you already suspect one or more specific employees of unlawfully taking money or goods, one of our Bielefeld private detectives can be placed undercover within your company to inconspicuously monitor the suspects and determine whether thefts are occurring. If you operate a large warehouse with many employees and suppliers coming and going, our investigators examine operational workflows. If goods from a delivery vehicle never reach the customer, our detective team discreetly observes the delivery driver to identify any deviations from the planned route and to document the diversion of goods to unauthorised locations in a court-admissible manner.

Do you need assistance in developing and implementing an individual security concept for your company? Our qualified security consultants and IT security specialists are at your service. Turn to our professional and discreet detectives in Bielefeld with confidence. You can reach us Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 20:00, at the following number: +49 521 2567 0055.