Blog of Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia

Affair on a Ski Holiday and the Children Parked in Childcare?

Après-ski has initiated many a happy relationship – and probably destroyed even more. After strenuous physical activity in impressive surroundings, the mind-set is different from everyday life. Many winter sports enthusiasts experience euphoria, freedom and a sense of weightlessness while practising their hobby. At the latest when the typical après-ski drink is added, when alcohol after exertion in the cold rises all the faster to the head, exuberance also sets in for many. The need for control gives way to laissez-faire. At the same time, attractive people are visible all around. These are the situations in which loyalty to one’s own partner is put to the test. And as with most tests, some fail here as well.

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia does not frequently carry out assignments in the winter sports milieu, but when it does, it is almost always due to the suspicion that the respective target person may be unfaithful to our client. This was also the case in the following matter, which led our detectives to Oberhof. The small rural town in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen is the most important winter sports centre in the Thuringian Forest and probably in the whole of central Germany. Apart from Erfurt and Weimar, no other place in Thuringia attracts more visitors. Among them this winter was Mrs Plaue, wife of the client and target person of our private detectives in Oberhof. Her husband not only feared that she would use her winter holiday for extramarital intimate activities, but also that she might neglect her supervisory duties towards the jointly travelling children.

Day 1: Surveillance by Detectives on the Ski Slope

As the client, Mr Plaue, was aware of a pre-booked appointment of his wife at a ski school, the surveillance by our two detectives in Oberhof began precisely at this appointment. Initially, it was to be verified whether the target person would actually attend the appointment with the two children (8 and 10 years old), as our client feared that she might simply drop them off there and then amuse herself elsewhere alone. However, the surveillance confirmed the presence of all three individuals. It was only noticeable that only the two children were seen on the slope, while Mrs Plaue remained either inside the ski school premises or on the terrace throughout.

 

At around one o’clock in the afternoon, the lesson apparently ended and the target person proceeded directly to her holiday apartment with the children. Although she went outside once more in the late afternoon, she merely ran errands and then returned without detours to the holiday apartment and the children. Nothing further occurred thereafter, and thus the first day of surveillance proved largely uneventful for the investigators of our private detective agency in Oberhof: no unattended handover of the children to third parties, no après-ski celebration, no unfamiliar men or women.

An Unexpected Reunion in the Evening Hours

The following day of surveillance was to prove considerably more interesting, and this had much to do with the setting: surveillance of persons travelling by car, on foot, by bicycle, by moped or motorcycle, by e-scooter, by taxi, on public transport, and even by boat – all this falls within the realm of the “normal” for our Thuringian detectives. However, surveillance on horseback constituted a novelty: late in the morning, Mrs Plaue drove with the children by car to a riding stable in the Thuringian Forest. While the children rode bicycles there through the cold, the target person went riding on horseback. Following a rider inconspicuously is not an everyday undertaking for detectives in Germany. Accordingly, visual contact was lost several times during the hours-long surveillance. As the target vehicle remained parked at the riding stable and Mrs Plaue would inevitably return there to hand back the horse, even if she were to continue travelling by other means for whatever reason, no damage was to be expected from the temporary loss of sight. Allowing a long leash made tactical sense from an investigative perspective.

 

After the long day at the riding stable, she returned directly to the holiday apartment. Nothing happened there until shortly after eight o’clock in the evening. Then, however, the private investigators of our detective agency in Oberhof were astonished: suddenly, the children’s ski instructor, who had been observed with them on the slope the previous day, appeared on foot in front of the building in which the target person’s holiday apartment was located. Upon arrival, the ski instructor tapped on his mobile phone and then waited briefly outside the door until Mrs Plaue emerged. Her ponytail and thermal riding trousers had now given way to loose hair, make-up and more elegant clothing. The two individuals greeted each other with a prolonged embrace and then proceeded to a car parked around the corner in order to drive to a restaurant.

Who Needs Après-Ski? Infidelity with the Ski Instructor.

At the latest during dinner at the restaurant, it became evident to our private detectives in Oberhof that Mrs Plaue required no après-ski to embark upon extramarital paths: apparently, she radiated such sociability that she had aroused the interest of her children’s ski instructor. Although no kisses were exchanged during the restaurant visit, the atmosphere was characterised by tenderness and a kind of shy exuberance typical of the initial phase of romantic relationships. Even though our private investigators, seated a few tables away, could hardly understand the content of the conversation, the general atmosphere between the two observed individuals left no doubt that this was neither a purely professional nor a purely friendly relationship.

 

It therefore came as no surprise when, after dinner, both drove by car to a residential property and entered it together; presumably, this was the (temporary) residence of the ski instructor. The deployed detectives used the opportunity to split up, enabling one of the two to conduct a control drive past the target person’s holiday apartment (after all, the children were in all likelihood still there). All windows remained dark, and no activity whatsoever could be detected inside. Our detectives from Erfurt assumed that the children were asleep – without a supervising adult. Only after one o’clock in the morning did the target person emerge again from the front door with the ski instructor and allow herself to be driven back to her holiday apartment.

When the Wellness Spa Becomes an Adventure Pool

Informed about the findings of the previous evening, the client of our private and commercial detective agency in Oberhof attempted the next morning to question his wife discreetly by telephone. At the core were two questions: What did you do yesterday? And: What are you planning today? Naturally, there had already been little doubt as to the nature of the meeting with the ski instructor, and naturally, in Mrs Plaue’s account of the previous day’s events, no ski instructor appeared, nor any stay at a foreign address. The restaurant visit, however, she wove into her narrative and even enthused to her husband about the quality of the food, which she had, of course, consumed alone. For the current day, a visit to a swimming pool with the children was planned. Less to continue examining his suspicion of infidelity than to assess what he could believe his wife at all, Mr Plaue had already commissioned our detectives the previous evening for a further day of surveillance. The investigators appreciated this not only for financial reasons, but also because an assignment in a swimming pool promised another entertaining variation in what can at times be a rather monotonous surveillance routine.

 

Until the afternoon, the children again went to the ski slope, while Mrs Plaue, as on the first day of investigation, remained almost exclusively inside the ski school premises. Whether intimate contact with the ski instructor occurred there could not be determined by us. It became exciting again after arrival at the swimming pool: although Mrs Plaue initially occupied herself with the children in the adventure pool area, she soon withdrew to the wellness area. And who joined her there a short time later? The ski instructor. Of course. Whereas the detectives in Oberhof had still perceived a certain shyness between the two individuals the previous day, there could now be no question of that. Like newly in-love teenagers, both enjoyed themselves in the whirlpool, in a cave-like construction and also in the sauna – always just within the bounds of decency so that no morality police would be set upon them.

No Doubt Despite Only Indirect Evidence

The lovebirds eventually bade each other a lengthy farewell before Mrs Plaue collected the children again from the adventure pool area and subsequently drove with them back to the holiday apartment. There, the scenario of the previous day was repeated: shortly before eight o’clock, the lights in the windows went out, and fifteen minutes later the target person was sitting in her car on the way to the same property in which she had spent the previous evening with the ski instructor. At least this time she returned to her children shortly after midnight. However, at this point there was no longer any doubt about the nature of her stay in the said property – neither for our private detectives in Oberhof nor for the client.

 

What consequences Mr Plaue ultimately drew from the findings obtained by Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia is unfortunately unknown to us.

Note

In order to safeguard discretion and the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been altered beyond recognition.

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia

Arnstädter Straße 50 

99096 Erfurt

Tel.: +49 361 2243 0020

Fax: +49 361 2243 0029

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-erfurt

Breakups can be as varied as the relationships themselves. While some end amicably, others leave no friendly word for their former partner. And some people struggle to accept that the person they once loved is no longer part of their life.

 

Many calls reach Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia with requests to have an ex monitored, “out of personal interest,” for example, to find out if they have a new partner. Purely personal curiosity, however, is generally not a sufficient reason for surveillance by our Thuringian detectives, as in such cases the ex-partner’s right to privacy outweighs other considerations.

 

There are, however, legitimate reasons that justify surveillance. Kurtz Private Detectives Erfurt and Thuringia (+49 361 2243 0020) outline these below.

Legitimate Interest Is Decisive

Especially in one-sided breakups, many people desperately want to know what their ex-partner is doing and seek ways to remain close. Hiring a detective to uncover everything about their new life may seem tempting. The key factor here is the so-called legitimate interest, which is usually a strict legal requirement for private investigators. If your motivation is purely personal, such as trying to win back your ex, resources like exzurueckexperte.de may be more appropriate for guidance.

 

While “tailing” an ex without economic or legal reasons is generally not lawful, there are separation cases in which contacting our Erfurt detectives makes sense.

Evidence Gathering in Divorce Cases

Maintenance

In divorce cases, hiring a detective can make sense in various scenarios. In maintenance disputes, the financial situations of both partners usually have to be disclosed. Not all spouses comply with their duty to disclose; many also give false information. If there are doubts about the legitimacy of maintenance claims, our private detectives for Jena, Weimar, Gotha and across Thuringia can help clarify the actual income situation and living conditions of the ex-partners.

 

This includes, for example, uncovering undeclared secondary employment or secret financial transactions of the maintenance-obliged partner. If there is reason to believe that the maintenance-entitled partner has committed a serious misconduct and thus forfeited the maintenance claim, for example through adultery, it may be sensible to choose a detective as a tried-and-tested way of producing evidence. In some cases, reimbursement of detective costs by the opposing party may even be sought.

Custody

The second pillar of evidence gathering against an ex-partner concerns custody concerns. If the other parent repeatedly shows worrying or undoubtedly unacceptable behaviour in dealing with the shared child, they may be disqualified from caring for the child. This generally affects at least personal contact and often also decision-making authority regarding place of residence and school choice, as well as many other areas of life.

 

Before a court makes a decision that is above all decisive for the child, clear evidence is required. Such evidence can be obtained in a manner admissible in court through observation of contact between the ex-partner and the child/children or, depending on the case, through observation of the other parent’s usual activities outside of contact time. Disqualifying factors that may not be observable during contact include addictive behaviour (alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.), violence or a criminal social environment.

Evidence Gathering During the Relationship

Even in cases of an abusive relationship, it can be very useful to obtain evidence with the support of experienced detectives. Evidence helps, for example, in obtaining an interim injunction against the ex-partner. This is a court order prohibiting your ex-partner from approaching you and, if applicable, your children.

 

Moreover, our Erfurt private detectives very often investigate suspected infidelity within ongoing relationships. Obtain a non-binding, free consultation for your individual concern: +49 361 2243 0020.

Note

Kurtz Detective Agency does not guarantee the correctness or applicability of information on linked third-party sites.

Editor: Patrick Kurtz

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia

Arnstädter Straße 50 

99096 Erfurt

Tel.: +49 361 2243 0020

Fax: +49 361 2243 0029

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-erfurt

Information on Properties and Owners

In view of the increasingly competitive property market in Germany, it can sometimes become almost impossible to find a centrally located annexe flat, an attractive plot in a good location or a dream house in the countryside. Furthermore, it often happens that a seemingly unused building plot or a terraced house that has stood empty for years attracts an interested party. The difficulty arises when one has finally found the object of one’s desire but does not know who the owner is or how to contact them. Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia assists in such and many other property-related matters by clarifying ownership structures through real estate information such as land register searches and, where necessary, even establishing direct contact between interested parties and administrators or owners.

 

A land register inquiry carried out by Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt includes not only the identity of the property owner, but also reveals any existing land charges (for example mortgages), clarifies hereditary lease arrangements and identifies particular circumstances such as restrictions due to listed building status or a nature conservation area. All this information, if obtained in good time, can prevent an unpleasant surprise after a hasty property transaction. If information regarding exact dimensions (size of the plot or the house) as well as the possibility of (further) development is required, our detectives from Erfurt will be pleased to assist you – nationwide: +49 361 2243 0020.

Verification Of Property And House Owners

Apart from pitfalls such as municipally imposed usage restrictions (for example a building ban), strict regulations due to a nature or water protection area or existing listed building status, there is always the risk in a property transaction of encountering a seller who is not trustworthy. In order to avoid property fraud and the misrepresentation of facts, our Erfurt corporate detective agency not only examines the property itself but also checks the property owner for hard facts such as creditworthiness, possible previous convictions, unpaid mortgages and so forth. In this way, doubts about the seller and their ownership can either be dispelled or confirmed – the latter then serving as a timely warning to the prospective buyer before purchase.

 

It is not uncommon for desperate plot seekers to fall for apparent bargains that turn into a nightmare after purchase: embellished dimensions, the concealment of land charges (colloquially referred to as “mortgages”), previously undisclosed building law restrictions concerning planned extensions or alterations, or hereditary lease regulations that may result in the property passing into the hands of third parties without the buyer, who may already have invested considerable sums and effort, being able to prevent it.

Mortgages, Foreclosure Auctions, Insolvency Proceedings – Land Register Information Creates Security.

Let us assume that a seller has concealed enormous debts from a prospective buyer. Some may now worry that by purchasing a property from this indebted person they will assume joint liability for repayment. However, since 1999 there has been no need to refrain from purchasing a property for this reason if one wishes to avoid becoming involved in payment obligations arising from previous liabilities. At that time, Section 419 of the German Civil Code was repealed without replacement, meaning that only debts actually secured against the property (land charges) pass to the new owner. Whether such encumbrances exist can in turn be determined nationwide by our private detectives from Erfurt through land register research.

 

Exceptionally high land charges represent a special case: if mortgages recorded in the land register exceed the purchase price, foreclosure auctions or enforcement proceedings may occur if the buyer is not in a position to discharge the entire land charge. Extreme caution is also required in the event of the seller’s insolvency, as the house, flat or plot may fall into the insolvency estate and, in the worst case, buyers may lose not only their money but also their newly acquired property. You can therefore see that the precautionary involvement of our Erfurt detective team can avert genuine residential nightmares and horror scenarios at an early stage.

Valuation Of The Plot Or Property

Our Erfurt corporate detectives are regularly commissioned not only for research purposes and contact information in connection with property transactions, but also to determine whether plot or house prices have been set appropriately or whether prospective buyers are to be deceived. Through our cooperation with professional surveyors and valuers, our clients are always on the safe side and may of course refer to us during negotiations, as well as to the Property Valuation Ordinance, abbreviated to ImmoWertV, applied in the assessment, which ensures an objective and comprehensible determination of value.

 

The value of a property is influenced not only by obvious factors (size, location, condition, transport connections, infrastructure, current and future property market), but also by information that is difficult for laypersons to obtain: legislative changes, municipal development plans, increases or decreases in value due to changes in the immediate surroundings (planned bypass road, opening of new schools, supermarkets) etc. Furthermore, it is naturally important to take into account biotopes and nature or wildlife protection areas located on the property when determining its value – something that sellers do not always consider.

Safeguarding Before A Property Transaction Through The Investigators Of Kurtz Investigations Erfurt And Thuringia

If, shortly before acquiring a property, you wish to eliminate any doubts, obtain precise plot data and background information regarding the seller’s creditworthiness and previous convictions, please feel free to contact our private detective agency in Erfurt. Through our professional and discreet work, we assure you of results as promptly as possible and court-admissible evidence should proceedings arise and evidential material be required. With our contacts to institutions, authorities and surveyors, we offer you a comprehensive service package designed to protect you from any unpleasant surprises when purchasing property or land.

 

You can reach us during our business hours (Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00) via our contact form, by e-mail (kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de) or on the following telephone number: +49 361 2243 0020.

Author: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia

Arnstädter Straße 50 

99096 Erfurt

Tel.: +49 361 2243 0020

Fax: +49 361 2243 0029

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-erfurt

Julia Rau, journalist at the MZ, interviewed Patrick Kurtz, owner of Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia:

Patrick Kurtz is one of Germany’s leading detectives. The young entrepreneur moves from one TV show to the next and even advises filmmakers on making detective work look authentic. He explained the reality of his work to MZ reporter Julia Rau.

How does one become a detective?

Patrick Kurtz: “The detective profession in Germany is not legally protected; anyone with a clean criminal record may register a detective business. Typically, one has previously worked with investigative authorities such as the police or customs. I studied and acquired the specialist knowledge for detective work through additional training at the Security Academy in Berlin. Entering the profession without training would have been suicidal. Unfortunately, many still do it that way.”

What does one learn in training?

Patrick Kurtz: “The most important thing is the legal foundation. Violating the law, for example regarding data protection, can get you and the client into serious trouble. Practically, one learns observation techniques, fingerprint collection, securing evidence, detecting eavesdropping devices, and how to conduct IT forensic investigations.”

Are career changers a problem in the industry?

Patrick Kurtz: “Yes, if they lack the necessary legal and investigative knowledge. Poorly trained detectives inevitably do substandard work, which damages the reputation of the entire profession. The industry already struggles with its public image. TV shows often create unrealistic expectations; clients sometimes ask if we – like TV detectives – intimidate people or extract information by force. We then have to explain how our work really functions.”

And how does it work in reality?

Patrick Kurtz: “Clients usually hire us because they suspect something. Most commonly we deal with fraud – private, such as infidelity, but also in business. Frequently, it’s sick leave abuse, where employees claim illness but pursue hobbies incompatible with recovery or work an undeclared side job. We also investigate maintenance fraud, expense fraud, theft from businesses, or embezzlement – often by delivery drivers diverting goods. We are also involved in more extreme cases, sometimes with unusual investigative methods. Last November, for example, we used scent-tracking dogs to search for the missing Anja B., recently found dismembered in Leipzig. The dogs indicated the suspect’s residence and the location of the body several times.”

If Mrs X suspects Mr X of an affair, what happens?

Patrick Kurtz: “First, we define the time frame during which Mr X could be involved, if the client can estimate it. Without a specific suspicion of timing, the subject must be observed over longer periods. We generally have little to no active influence on events; we are passive observers – unlike TV detectives. Sometimes the unfaithful spouse might be seen kissing their partner on the street for two hours, and the case is over. Other times, nothing relevant happens for days.”

Do suspicions usually prove correct?

Patrick Kurtz: “I’d estimate about 75 percent of cases. If the client allows and funds extended observation, suspicions are usually confirmed. Of course, it’s a financial question; one hour of detective work costs €55. Fewer hours reduce the likelihood of obtaining evidence.”

How is an observation conducted?

Patrick Kurtz: "Most observations begin in a car, but if the subject is travelling on foot or by train, we follow them on foot accordingly. Spending an entire day in a car is not uncommon."

And what happens if the subject leaves the country?

Patrick Kurtz: "Then we follow, provided the client wishes it. This happens quite regularly. If the subject unexpectedly heads to the airport, it must of course be clarified with the client whether the pursuit should continue, since they also have to cover the costs."

How else do you gather information besides observations?

Patrick Kurtz: "In preparation for an observation we normally carry out an online search. It becomes difficult when we are asked to investigate retrospectively, for example if a company suspects an employee of past expense fraud. We can no longer observe that directly, but there are, among other measures, covert interviews. A 'legend' is a pretext used in investigations to obtain information. One might pose as a technician and collect information in conversation. In general, one must be able to adapt: when observing on a construction site, it often works best to appear in workwear; at an upscale evening event, a suit is appropriate. Sometimes detectives are even embedded in client companies as a new colleague to discreetly investigate incidents and build personal relationships with targets."

Is the job dangerous?

Patrick Kurtz: "Rarely. There are dangerous situations, but no more than, say, for an electrician. Once we had a case where a family was searching for their daughter. When we found her, she told us in tears that she had not gone missing but had deliberately fled her family because she feared for her life. At her request we did not disclose the address. The family, of course, was not pleased and threatened two of my employees."

Are subjects ever asked whether they want to be found?

Patrick Kurtz: "Generally not. In that case it was an address search without legitimate interest. Detective work always involves an intrusion into the subject’s right to privacy. To legalise that intrusion we need a sufficient justification — the legitimate interest. If legitimate interest for an address search is lacking, we proceed by asking the subject whether we may disclose their address. Because the daughter in the example was an adult, the family had no right to learn her whereabouts if she did not want them to know. That is the right of self-determination. It is different when we search for a debtor, because then a legitimate interest exists and thus a justification to intrude into the subject’s privacy. The debtor is not asked in such cases, legitimate interest takes precedence."

What skills are required to be a detective?

Patrick Kurtz: "You need stamina and patience for observations, and must cope with hunger, thirst, heat and cold. High concentration is essential, for example to focus on a door from which no one has emerged for hours. Logical thinking is also important to piece together the puzzle in complex matters. In economic offences there are often multi-layered illegal connections with international monetary transactions; combinatorial skills are needed to understand these links. For interviews it helps to be able to empathise with people. If you build a legend, you should be a convincing liar to present it credibly. Not every detective possesses all these skills. One investigator may be an excellent observer but become nervous during covert interviews."

Is detective work a male-dominated field?

Patrick Kurtz: "Yes, women are scarce. Unfortunately, because they are very valuable in various investigative areas. Recently we had a case where a couple often used the sauna. It is less conspicuous if the observer also appears as a couple in the sauna. Moreover, most people would be less likely to suspect a woman of being a detective."

Original source from MZ: 

www.mz-web.de/halle-saale/trenchcoat-und-schlapphut--aus-dem-wirklichen-leben-eines-privatdetektivs-26736332

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia

Arnstädter Straße 50 

99096 Erfurt

Tel.: +49 361 2243 0020

Fax: +49 361 2243 0029

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-erfurt

An ultra who misses a match because he has to work?

Nothing stops an ultra from supporting their team – not even incapacity for work. The term “playing hooky due to illness” fits this case particularly well, as the support provided by ultras at football matches typically includes more than just positive elements like chants, banners, choreographies or protest demonstrations. Most followers of this fan scene see a match as an event and a holiday, which involves alcohol and, particularly in Eastern Germany, sometimes riots, pyrotechnics and violence. The following case study concerns exactly such events, in which Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia were instructed by a businessman from Arnstadt to investigate an employee suspected of feigning ongoing incapacity for work, as he, a committed Erfurt ultra, absolutely did not want to miss the Thuringia Cup final on 28 May 2016 between Rot-Weiß Erfurt and Carl Zeiss Jena.

Regular short-term sick notes and a match with everything: derby, final, DFB Cup

The subject of our Erfurt detectives had in the past repeatedly submitted short-term sick notes around Rot-Weiß Erfurt matches, particularly when rescheduled or arranged at short notice. Our client from Arnstadt had a fairly clear suspicion that he was being deceived. He was fully convinced that his allegedly disloyal employee would not miss the cup final under any circumstances, as it was not only a chance to win a title but also a derby against the arch-rival and a qualification hurdle for the first round of the DFB Cup, where large draws and thus potentially significant revenues awaited against opponents such as Borussia Dortmund or FC Bayern. The employer therefore sensed a perfect opportunity to expose the employee, whose behaviour had long been a thorn in his side.

 

Normally, the ultra would only take a sick day on the match day itself or at most one or two days before or after, but this time the HR department received the sick note already on Wednesday (the subject had Monday and Tuesday off), although the match was scheduled for Saturday. On the same day, the managing director arranged with our Erfurt detective agency to begin surveillance of the suspect the following day, Thursday.

A pleasant day by the lake – in itself no proof of faked illness

In addition to its innovative economy, Thuringia offers residents an attractive environment: the state’s nature and national parks are popular for day trips, the Thuringian Slate Mountains and the Rennsteig trail running across the Thuringian Forest invite hiking, and rivers such as the Saale, Werra, Ilm, and Unstrut are open for fishing. Near Erfurt, there are not only the prominent Drei Gleichen castles by the A4 but also the “Erfurt Lakes” region and the Hohenfelden reservoir, where the music festival “Highfield” used to take place (now near Leipzig). On the morning of the first surveillance day, the subject of our Thuringia commercial detectives drove to a lake and entered a wooded area by the shore. Following the sick employee directly would have been too dangerous, as any vehicle on the rarely used forest path would immediately be noticed in the rearview mirror. Therefore, the detectives monitored the access road, checked online for other exit routes (none existed), and agreed that one of the Erfurt detectives would enter the forest on foot to locate the subject.

 

After some time, the detective found the parked car in a small clearing; a few metres away, the subject lay completely naked by the water, sunbathing that Thursday under intermittent cloud cover. The Thuringia private investigator informed his colleague waiting in the vehicle that he would now search for a suitable observation point. Finding a vantage point proved difficult; they even considered positioning on the opposite bank to use a telephoto lens, but this was rejected after consulting the operations centre due to the danger of becoming trapped while the subject left. Instead, our Erfurt commercial detective eventually found a tree crown, which allowed him to observe the subject, albeit with some obstruction from branches and foliage. During the day, the sick employee appeared to do little beyond sleeping, watching films or series on a tablet, masturbating in a barely sheltered dip, and swimming multiple times in the icy lake. Around 5:00 pm, the subject returned home and did not leave the apartment again that day.

Extended “match day”: early drinking the day before

Apparently, this early sick note served as a small rest day before the demands of the upcoming football event, as the next morning at 9:00 am a man wearing an Erfurt fan T-shirt arrived at the door, and both went to a fan pub for an early drink, extending their visit into the afternoon and evening until the subject of our Erfurt commercial detectives was driven home by his wife at around 11:30 pm, heavily intoxicated.

 

On match day, the ultra met other fans near Erfurt main station in the morning, consumed beer, and chanted slogans before travelling with around 600 supporters by train to Jena, where the cup final was scheduled for 5:00 pm at the not fully sold-out Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld (RWE had only received a ticket allocation of 1,200). To avoid detection, our Thuringia detectives disguised themselves in Rot-Weiß Erfurt fan attire, maintaining visual contact with the subject even as the group was escorted by police to the stadium.

 

Three detectives were assigned: two to monitor the exit of visiting fans to reacquire sight of the subject leaving the stadium, and a third, with a ticket for the main stand provided by the Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia operations centre, to identify the sick employee in the visiting block from a neutral outfit and document his clearly non-recovering actions. Ninety minutes or more, in the case of extra time, allowed ample opportunity to locate the subject in the crowd, though visibility was hindered by flares and smoke bombs in the visiting section, causing a delayed kickoff.

Drinking and partying during sick leave

During the match, both Erfurt and Jena fans continued setting off pyrotechnics. The game itself was slow and uninspiring. Carl Zeiss Jena scored two late goals to win the cup for the third consecutive time, much to the frustration of Rot-Weiß Erfurt, and possibly securing a multimillion-euro DFB Cup opportunity. From a distance, our detective documented how the subject enthusiastically joined in the chants and consumed considerable amounts of beer apparently smuggled in illegally. After the second conceded goal, the ultra appeared shocked; Rot-Weiß Erfurt was a league above their arch-rival, who had failed to earn promotion by 24 points. When the Erfurt team approached the travelling supporters after the match, a few club scarves were burned. Fortunately, the fans returned relatively peacefully to the station and went home. There was no “after-match party” for the subject; clearly frustrated and heavily intoxicated again, he was collected by his wife at the main station and taken straight home.

 

At this point, the Thuringia detective team ended surveillance, as the evidence gathered was overwhelming. The Arnstadt company’s managing director received the legally admissible investigative report the following Monday and summoned the subject to the office the next working day (Wednesday) to “give the deceitful employee a talking-to,” as he put it, and hand over the immediate termination notice.

Legally Admissible Investigations in Thuringia: Available to You Too

The IHK-certified detectives of Kurtz Investigations Erfurt and Thuringia conduct investigations for private individuals and businesses regionally, nationally, and internationally. We maintain excellent contacts with authorities, detective agencies, and former police and intelligence personnel both domestically and abroad, enabling rapid and effective cross-border operations.

 

We are happy to take on your assignment. Call us for a non-binding consultation (+49 361 2243 0020) or send an email with a case description to kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de.

To maintain discretion and protect the privacy of clients and subjects, all names and locations in this case report have been completely anonymised.

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia

Arnstädter Straße 50 

99096 Erfurt

Tel.: +49 361 2243 0020

Fax: +49 361 2243 0029

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de

Web: https://www.kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de/en

Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-erfurt