Competition Fraud Turns into a Cycling Tour – The Detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Stuttgart Investigate

The next morning, the business detectives from Kurtz Detective Agency Stuttgart began their observation as early as 4:30 a.m., with a folding bicycle in each of the two cars. Right on schedule at 5:15 a.m., the target left his garage dressed in sportswear, a backpack on his shoulders, and cycled off. One investigator, already waiting nearby with a bike, immediately began following him. The second observer followed discreetly in the car but had to keep a long distance to avoid suspicion and could not take every route, as some were not accessible by motor vehicles. At least the car-based observer could track the cyclist’s position via a GPS tracker placed in the latter’s jacket pocket. Around 6:25 a.m., the car observer received a call from his colleague on the bike. Gasping for air, the voice said: “TP gone! I just can’t anymore! The guy rides like Lance Armstrong after visiting Doctor EPO! No chance, sorry!”

Since this failed bicycle observer had actually been chosen as the fittest investigator of Kurtz Detective Agency Stuttgart, the unsuccessful attempt to “keep pace” with the target posed a serious problem. A quick solution was needed for the next day. By chance, an old school friend of one of our Stuttgart detectives owned a bicycle shop. Hoping for a lead, he was contacted – perhaps he could provide a trained cyclist for the task. After several phone calls, the team finally found a man who regularly participated in small cycling races and often achieved impressive results. The briefing for his role as a bicycle observer took place that afternoon with our experienced Stuttgart detectives. The greatest challenge in such a long mobile surveillance is maintaining the balance between keeping visual contact and remaining inconspicuous, especially since the operation would begin in darkness and dawn, with hardly any other cyclists around. But there was no time for alternatives – the newcomer was thrown straight into the cold water of detective work.

Again, at precisely 5:15 a.m. the next morning, the target left the garage on his bike. The temporary detective of Kurtz Detective Agency Stuttgart began the observation, while an experienced investigator followed by car – as best he could. Around 6:40 a.m., the GPS tracker indicated that our helper had reached Stuttgart city centre. Ten minutes later, he reported that the target had entered an office building. Shortly afterwards, the car observer and the temporary detective of Kurtz Commercial Investigation Agency Stuttgart met within sight of the building to discuss the situation. Even this trained cyclist was visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat. “He set quite a pace, I tell you! That’ll cost you an extra beer at the weekend!” he laughed. “He even did push-ups in the park on the way – I couldn’t believe my eyes!”

Our cyclist was then released from duty, and a seasoned investigator of Kurtz Detective Agency Stuttgart took over the on-site observation, as the building had two exits that could not be covered by a single observer. The detective checked the company signs inside the building and discovered a firm operating in the same industry as our client’s – highly likely to be the target’s new employer. During an internal inspection, the target was indeed spotted inside, wearing a suit and clearly freshly showered. The Stuttgart detectives positioned themselves to monitor the premises while the case lead arranged a cover story for the following day, under which a “consultation meeting” with the target’s company would be scheduled. During the day, the target was also observed leaving the office for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Nine hours after his arrival, he exited the building again – now back in sportswear – and cycled home. To preserve discretion, our Stuttgart bicycle observer did not follow him this time. Instead, the commercial investigators drove directly to the target’s residence, where he arrived about 105 minutes later. The day’s surveillance was concluded.