On 15 February 2020, Tim Harpers of the Rheinische Post Duisburg spoke with Patrick Kurtz, owner of Kurtz Detective Agency Duisburg, about the work of private investigators in Germany.

Detective Agency in Duisburg

“Duisburg. Patrick Kurtz runs a detective agency with 30 offices across Germany. He and his colleagues conduct investigations in Duisburg, Düsseldorf, and the Lower Rhine region. A conversation about the challenges of his job, fraud, surveillance, and even saving lives.”

The Path to Today’s Kurtz Detective Agency

“Patrick Kurtz could do anything. He is an entirely unobtrusive type – fit and well-groomed, wearing a black sweater, grey trousers, and a silver watch. Calm, deliberate in speech, with no particularly noticeable tics, he appears charming, intelligent, and smiles frequently. He could blend in among lawyers, business graduates, bartenders, or insurance agents – unnoticed. For someone like Kurtz, this is crucial. At 30, he is a private detective, and unobtrusiveness is one of the key requirements of his job.

 

The Kurtz Detective Agency, headquartered in Leipzig, operates more than 30 offices in Germany. In addition to the West German headquarters in Wuppertal, locations include Düsseldorf and Duisburg. From Wuppertal, the agency covers the entire western region, sending detectives to the Lower Rhine, the Ruhr area, and the Sauerland as needed. Most investigators work freelance. Until the previous year, all approximately 600 cases per year went through the boss’s desk. 'That became too much for me,' says Kurtz. 'It wore me down. I had to learn to delegate.'

 

Kurtz grew up in Thuringia. 'Back then, I devoured every book on detective work,' he recalls. Later, he studied Provincial Roman Archaeology, Psychology, Comparative Literature, and German Studies at the Universities of Oxford, Leipzig, Marburg, and Hagen. 'Between my Bachelor’s and Master’s, I had a year off,' says Kurtz. 'I came across an internship offer as a private detective. I applied, but then never heard back.' However, his interest was piqued. 'It was a mix of natural inclination and fascination with the field that made me explore what it takes to be successful in this profession.' Eventually, he discovered the IHK course to become a 'Certified Detective' at the Berlin Security Academy. The curriculum covered two main areas: investigative techniques and legal fundamentals on one hand, and security on the other. 'The security component was less relevant to me,' says Kurtz. 'It covered things like building and goods protection, knowledge useful for a store detective. That’s not the path I wanted to take.'”

Areas of Work at Kurtz Detectives Duisburg

“Test thefts and store surveillance are therefore not offered by Kurtz and his colleagues. 'That is an entirely different focus,' explains the investigator. 'We specialise in personal and corporate investigations.'

 

Most private detective work involves surveillance or research assignments related to fraud – whether in personal or professional contexts. Personal cases often concern infidelity, while corporate cases might involve, for example, sick leave fraud. The agency also offers specialist services such as IT forensics or locating individuals. Kurtz even employs mantrailing, the use of trained scent-tracking dogs.”

Legal Rights of Detectives in Germany

“Detectives cannot take photographs inside private homes at will – as TV shows often suggest. 'We only have what are called “everyman’s rights”, so we always need a legitimate interest to act,' explains Kurtz. Private residences are legally protected zones. 'If we conduct surveillance, it is in public areas.' Observations made there are usually sufficient. 'We communicate this clearly to clients. We cannot photograph inside a living room, but often it is enough to capture that, for instance, a spouse suspected of fraud visited a particular address.'”

Mantrailing Case Involving a Suicide Attempt

“For Kurtz, detective work is more about pursuing fraudsters. That is the ‘bread and butter’ of the job.

 

He recalls a case on the Lower Rhine that stands out. Concerned parents contacted the Kurtz Detective Agency about their 18-year-old son who had gone missing, leaving a farewell note indicating he might harm himself. The only information the parents had was a nearby ATM where he withdrew money. 'In this case, mantrailing was appropriate,' recalls Kurtz. 'We asked the parents to bring an item carrying the boy’s scent to the ATM. The dogs picked up a trail, leading us to a hotel. We had to convince staff that it was a life-or-death situation. When the dogs alerted at a hotel room, staff opened the door – and the boy was lying unconscious on the bed with slashed wrists.' He was rushed to hospital in time and saved.”

Ongoing Challenges in the Detective Industry

“Cases like this motivate the 30-year-old. Motivation is crucial, as lapses are not an option. The industry is currently facing tough times. 'The market is shrinking,' says Kurtz. 'Social media and the internet help us in some ways, but also cost us jobs. Today, much information that once required a detective is readily available online.'

 

He welcomes every competent new colleague. Good investigators need curiosity, endurance, and improvisational skills. 'Endurance is crucial – a single surveillance can last 12, 13, 14 hours. If a case hits a dead end, you need to sit down, think laterally, and find a solution,' says Kurtz. 'I call it using your head.' High demands for a profession without protected title make recruiting motivated and capable newcomers difficult. 'We are constantly looking.'

 

Ideally, new colleagues are as unobtrusive as their boss. Lawyers, business graduates, bartenders, or insurance agents with brains, talent, and interest in a career switch – Kurtz welcomes them all.”

Note

The original article appeared in the Rheinische Post. Any highlights (bold text) and hyperlinks on this page may differ from the original.

Kurtz Investigations Duisburg

Auf dem Damm 112

47137 Duisburg

Tel.: +49 203 3196 0052

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

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

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