What is the Suspicion of Merchandise Theft?
Theft is a criminal offence (3 years of imprisonment and a €45,000 fine) which can be classified as a felony if it is aggravated by circumstances that can lead to life imprisonment and a €150,000 fine.
Theft is defined by the Penal Code in Article 311-1: “Theft is the fraudulent appropriation of someone else’s property.” Articles 311-2 to 311-11 of the Penal Code define the aggravating circumstances of theft.
Who Has the Right to Conduct an Investigation to Find Evidence of Merchandise Theft?
Any professional who believes they have been a victim of merchandise theft can initiate an investigation with a private investigator.
What Are the Possible Actions to Find Evidence of Merchandise Theft?
The private investigator can implement various measures tailored to the case type: an administrative investigation, interviews, surveillance, shadowing, and possibly infiltration at the workplace (see “How to Successfully Infiltrate a Company?“) with the client’s consent and respecting the individual liberties of employees.
As long as the actions taken by the investigator are proportionate to the committed acts, the private investigation report will be admissible in court.
Why Hire a Private Investigator Agency to Find Evidence of Merchandise Theft?
Hiring a private investigator for a merchandise theft case will help definitively prove the theft, identify the perpetrator(s) and any accomplices, determine the modus operandi used by the thief, possibly identify the storage locations of the stolen goods, and if applicable, trace the network of receivers benefiting from the stolen goods. The detective can also offer advice to the victim to minimise theft risks.
The private investigator’s report will prove the offence of theft and allow the company to end the harm it suffers. Thus, the company can discipline the perpetrator(s) by termination if it involves internal merchandise theft. Criminal charges, supported by a solid and well-argued file, can also be pursued.
The private investigation report provided by the investigator serves as evidence to characterise the employee’s serious misconduct, protecting the employer from a claim of wrongful termination in labor court.
How Much Does a Private Investigator's Intervention to Find Evidence of Merchandise Theft Cost?
The cost of the intervention will depend on the initially chosen strategy. Surveillance is billed by the hour, and the provision of specific equipment is charged at a flat rate. Feel free to contact our agency director, Anthony CAUDAL, to obtain a detailed quote tailored to your needs (see “Rates“).
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