Latest / The Unscripted Investigator Podcast / How a PI Followed One Man for 4 Months Without Getting Caught - Episode 3

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How a PI Followed One Man for 4 Months Without Getting Caught - Episode 3 · The Unscripted Investigator Podcast

• Daniel: Alright, everybody, welcome back to the Unscripted Investigator Podcast with Austin the PI and Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: your co-host, Daniel, not the PI. We're on episode Austin The PI: De snizzel. Daniel: three. yeah. Daniel D Snizzle, not a PI, not the PI, Daniel Tappi, whatever you want to call me. Austin The PI: That's him. Daniel: we're back, episode three, baby. Austin The PI: Here we are. I've been excited for this. I've been thinking about it all day. Daniel: Say. Really? Austin The PI: Yeah, actually. I did a lot of like marketing esque tasks today and then I was doing computer work and I was thinking like dang tonight we get to do the podcast, I get to talk to Daniel again. How was your weekend, Daniel? Daniel: Weekend was lit. Austin The PI: I know. Daniel: we got to hang out, you and me. Austin The PI: We sure did. Daniel: Which was sweet and some other friends had a bunch of people over, grilled out, had some burgers and dogs, and the dogs were all the rage. I was like, What is this? How how old are we? Six? Austin The PI: I I ate I ate one. I ate a hot dog and I literally thought, I got that dog in me. Daniel: That's right. Austin The PI: Yeah, dude, we got Liddy and Charl Liddy, didn't we? Daniel: We did be honest with me though. What what do you think the median age of anyone at the party was? And then what is the appropriate median age for someone to eat a hot dog? Austin The PI: Hmm. Interesting question. Never thought about that. but I should have. So median age at the party, let me set the scene for you guys. It was a housewarming and also football party. Daniel: A bow. Austin The PI: Bootball. I spent the vast majority of the time trying to dunkaroo some plastic golf balls into a a trash can. I was not successful, Daniel: That's right. Austin The PI: but I got pretty close. we were in and out of the house. Like you said, there was burgers, there was dogs. I had that dog in me. Daniel: I did not. Austin The PI: To be to be clear, I ate a hot dog down my gullet. That's what that's all I meant by that. Daniel: Did you have a button? Austin The PI: Please don't clip that. I've got two buns. Yeah, I had a Daniel: You had two buns and one dog in you? Austin The PI: yes, I had a yes, I had a bun and I slathered that thing in ketchup. It was a slizzy glizzy. Daniel: Did you ever have you seen the hot dog eating contest? Like on the fourth? Austin The PI: I mean, I have seen a hot dog eating contest. Daniel: No, no, no, like the national one. Austin The PI: Like with the I just know there's like a he looks he looks Japanese and he wears a headband and he slurps them things. Daniel: Maybe maybe that'll be our clip today. Austin The PI: Yeah, he's he slizys them glizzy, I'll tell you what. yeah, call him the gliz doctor. Daniel: Yeah. I'll I'll answer my own question. I think the average age there Austin The PI: I was getting to it. All right, I was setting Daniel: Exactly. Austin The PI: the scene. Let me do it. I would say I would say at the the mean median age was probably twenty nine. I was gonna say twenty nine. Yeah. Daniel: Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. Yep. Austin The PI: There w there were people I'm thirty one, Daniel's thirty one, no Daniel's thirty. Daniel: Delayed reaction there. Austin The PI: Man. Yeah. and then no, Daniel's thirty one. Yeah. And Daniel: Giving them away all my info, huh? Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah, Daniel's middle name. I'm just kidding. But basically, yeah. It was like people and their their little kids. Bunch of people didn't have kids. I think the appropriate average age to eat a hot dog I would I'd probably say forty five. Daniel: Oof. say I would say Four two five years old is the appropriate age. Austin The PI: No, dude. No. I when whenever I think of a hot dog, I think of a middle aged man taking his family to Costco and getting getting the hot dog and a p Daniel: Yeah, h his family, his children. Austin The PI: Yeah, but it was his idea. It was his idea. And and then the other Daniel: Probably wasn't. It was probably Austin The PI: the other thing I think of is like somebody some middle aged man on the fourth of July grilling up some dogs and drinking a bush light. That's what he's doing. Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: And then he walks over to the neighbor's house, Y'all want a dog? Daniel: I just think of kids. I just think you must be in elementary school if you're eating a hot dog. Austin The PI: What are you the Gliz police? Daniel: Yeah, that'll be my new intro. All right everyone, welcome Austin The PI: Hey. Daniel: to the Uns Unscripted Investor Gradio podcast with Austin the PI and Daniel the Glispolice. Austin The PI: This is this is D Snizzle, we call him the Gliz Doctor. Daniel: What a start. Austin The PI: Hey, d Daniel, welcome back. Gliz me up, dude. Daniel: No, no. No, I don't think Austin The PI: Hey bro, we fitting a gliz or what? Daniel: Alright, let's glize. Austin The PI: Moving on. Daniel: moving on. Today's sponsor is Austin The PI: Yes, today's sponsor is my business. So Integrity Investigations here in South Carolina is the name of my business. It is named after my father's business in North Carolina Integrity Investigations. And yeah, I'm gonna be the first sponsor of the podcast. If you need a private investigator and you're anywhere in South Carolina or North Carolina, let me know. I will be glad to help you. Daniel: Coming soon to a state near you. No, aren't you thinking about some other licenses in other states? Is that public info? Can you share that? Austin The PI: Yeah, yeah. So I am very seriously thinking about Florida. like probably beginning of next year. I'd be looking at Florida. Daniel: They got those cheaters in Florida. huh. Austin The PI: They they are just busy down in Florida. I have a few buddies down there. Daniel: Yeah. A lot of shady stuff happening. Austin The PI: I was talking to one of them today and he's like, dude, I'll I will give you cases if you come down to Florida. I was like, All right, bet. I'll come down to Florida. Yeah. Daniel: There you go. Yeah. Austin The PI: So I mean, that's one. And then the other one I'm thinking about is New York. just because there's a lot that happens in the city and it would be worth It would be worth getting a license to take bigger cases there. Yeah. Daniel: Yeah, that makes sense. Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: You wanna do any like cool readout or anything like that? Austin The PI: What? Daniel: Never mind. Don't worry about it. Austin The PI: you do it for me. Daniel: Alright, yeah. Today's sponsor is Integrity Investigations where we find them, the people who are ruining your life. Call us today Austin The PI: Mm. I get it. I get it. I'll have that. Daniel: at one eight hundred integrity dot com. That's Austin The PI: I probably should give my like contact info. That's I understand what you're saying now. As you can tell, I'm not a professional marketer, but I my my phone number just feels weird. 803-758-3868. Give me a call, give me a ring, and and tell me that you're from the podcast so I know it's working. And then Daniel: We gotta work on that. Austin The PI: my my email. Austin at integrity investigations sc dot com and then you can visit the website too. Daniel: About to get blown up. Austin The PI: It's just the end of the end of the email there. Go check it out. I Daniel: This is for ser serious inquiries only, not just not just a chat. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah. I mean I will chat with you, but you'll also get blocked, just so you know. Daniel: Nice. And he'll find you. Austin The PI: Yeah, I'll find you and block you in person. Daniel: All right. you wanna start us off with a story or should we jump into a clip? Austin The PI: Let's do the clip first. I have to I have to get all lubed up for a story. You know what mean? I'm feeling a little dry. Daniel: Yeah, I no I get that. all right. Today's clip or I I hope this doesn't get blocked, but This is one I saw randomly over the past month or so and wanted to get your take on it. because I'd never seen this before. And when I first saw it, I was like, that's Austin. I gotta get his reaction. So we Austin The PI: A. All right. Daniel: are gonna watch. The trailer for RJ Decker Season two. Here we go. He's already in Florida. You gotta get license there. Austin The PI: Yeah, I was just thinking that. I was waiting for this. Daniel: There we go. Yeah, all right, hold on. Before before you comment, I feel like this is what a lot of people think your life is like. Austin The PI: Y really? Daniel: I think so. Like, he's got the camera. He doesn't not look like you, first of all. Austin The PI: Right. Daniel: He's got like almost similar style. Like I could see you wearing that shirt, Loki. Austin The PI: I could see me wearing that shirt too, especially if I was in Florida. Daniel: He's g he's got the big long camera. He's like snapping photos. I mean, if someone's just like watching you on Instagram and then they see that, I think they're like, I follow a guy on Instagram who does that. And it's like one to one in their mind. You know what I mean? Like, yes, I think people understand that like TV is dramatized a little bit, but like more Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: or less I think people think that like that's the type of situations you're in like all the time. And So now want to get your take. How real is Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: that? Austin The PI: Yeah. So so I'll I'll talk about some different aspects of it. The whole the whole vibe, like it's it's kind of like satire, right? Like it's it reminds me of Psyche, the the Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: show Psyche. Have you ever seen that? Daniel: I've seen like two episodes. So not really. Austin The PI: Well, basically basically he's like a master like like situation reader and person reader. Like he's he's a master of seeing what people how Daniel: yeah, yeah, yeah. Austin The PI: people react and so that he can put it together in his mind. but he makes it seem like he's a psychic. He's he's a fake psychic. He's just a really good detective. but the whole show is like it's it's made to be comedic. So That portion of things, I think if we take that away, there's a lot of elements that are actually true. So, like, we do get hired by private clients to see who killed who, right? I do Daniel: Yeah. So like when late the lady was calling, being like, I need to figure out who Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like people really call Austin The PI: I need a private investigator. Yeah. Yeah. So Daniel: you with like that kind of stuff. Austin The PI: People actually call me and say, hey, my brother was killed. I need you to figure out by who. And then I start investigating the case. I sit down to a meeting with the client and I, you know, it's it's a lot more low key and formal. Like, I will never find myself in front of somebody with an RPG. I'll say that. But like I've been in Daniel: Yeah. I was wondering about that. Austin The PI: s I've been in situations where I was like, I might get shot right now. Daniel: Maybe a little more PG than RPG. You know what I'm saying? Austin The PI: You get it. Yeah. But so the other things that are yeah, go ahead and play. That was a good Daniel: There we go. Austin The PI: one. I like that. The so the camera. I do carry a camera around a lot, right? Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: But I'm like, I don't know. Like he seems like way more out in the open than I would be personally when I'm watching somebody. And if I was out, like for example, he's got that dance floor where it's like kind of the outdoor seating situation. In that kind of scenario, you could have a camera and you wouldn't really look weird because you're just kind of like hanging around the pool. You might just be a photographer. It was a Daniel: That's a big camera though. Yeah, maybe a little more discrete of a camera. Austin The PI: That was a giant camera, yeah. And that's kind of what I'm getting at. I personally I can actually show you standby. I personally use a camera that is much smaller, but it can achieve the same thing, right? And this is even a big camera. Daniel: What kind of camera is that for for just the audio listeners? Austin The PI: This is a point and shoot Nikon. It's a Nikon Cool Picks P nine hundred. And for all of my visual people online, look at the zoom on that bad boy. Yeah, it consumed like probably, I don't know. I always like my guesstimate like quarter mile. It consume really far. Daniel: That's crazy. Austin The PI: Yeah. So that part of the the show is a little unrealistic, I wouldn't pick a camera where I have to change lenses frequently because Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: you risk losing a shot that way. I know people that do, but they're also like gear fanatics about cameras. Does that make sense? To each his own. But that's not really what I would do. so yeah, there are specific cases where you get hired to work a a private murder case or things like that. I think it's he is put into much more like dangerous situations than I am. Daniel: Are there investigators Austin The PI: And they're not. Daniel: out there that do get put into more, like that generally have more dangerous situations? Austin The PI: I I don't personally work with them, but I've heard of some that that are like that. And the the thing is, that is really exciting and cool, but at the end of the day, like you're constantly risking your license and your life. Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: and so it's like, and like for an investigator, unless you unless you reach, do you know what a fixer is? Daniel: I know what a fixer Austin The PI: Like it. Daniel: upper is. Austin The PI: So, like there's a term like a fixer. You have like corporate fixers, and then you have like people that are fixers, like that are basically organized crime adjacent. and they work for like family offices or really powerful and wealthy people. And so they will be grafted into this wealthy organization as a fixer, and they're essentially a private investigator that operates outside of the law. But the reason that they've been grafted in is because they get really good results. And it's it's a line. There's a line there because it's really cool, right? If if you're the guy that they call to go get something done, whether it's on the line legally or not, and you go and you just get it done and they're paying you crazy money, it's really cool. But it's also like like you're you're constantly worried about going to jail, you're constantly worried about someone in another upper echelon area trying to kill you, you know? So that Daniel: Right. Right. Austin The PI: is like a lifestyle that I some investigators might live, but I don't know them. Daniel: Me either. Austin The PI: Yeah. So it's cool, but yeah, I think that it's a little bit larger than life, obviously. But it it definitely has some like real elements. Like I actually do those things. They just look a little different. Daniel: Yeah. Have you ever actually seen an episode of RJ Decker? Austin The PI: No, but it looks very similar to Magnum PI. Daniel: I actually have never seen Magnum PI for the record. Austin The PI: god Daniel. Me and you we're gonna have to have like a I'm Daniel: My fire. Austin The PI: gonna no, but I'm gonna have to come up there and stay and we're gonna have to watch and I'm talking about the old one with Tom Selleck. I've never seen the new Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: one. Daniel: I haven't seen the new one either. I didn't know there was a new one. Austin The PI: We have to watch the old one together. It's so good. Daniel: Is it a movie or a show? But I thought. Austin The PI: Yeah. It was filmed in Hawaii. I've actually been to where it was filmed. Daniel: All right. Nice. Austin The PI: yeah, and I would like meet the people that were currently filming the new one. like Daniel: that's cool. Austin The PI: yeah, I met some of the like set workers. It was cool. Daniel: Yeah. Did you tell me you're a PI? Austin The PI: no, I did not. Daniel: Ugh missed opportunity. Austin The PI: Probably a missed missed opportunity. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, that's kind of a thing, is like I think I've mentioned this to you before. I might have mentioned this on the podcast, like an episode or the first episode, maybe. It's kind of awkward sometimes to talk to people about being a PI. You know this. It's kind of like it like it can be cool, but at the same time, they ask what you do, and sometimes it's pretty morbid, and then it just like kills the mood. Daniel: Yeah, that was all of last week's episode. So if you didn't listen to episode two, don't worry about it. Austin The PI: Is that what I talked about last week? Daniel: No, I mean it was a little morbid, but I we were just tired. Austin The PI: yeah yeah yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we were just tired. Yeah. But but yeah, sometimes it kills the mood. So sometimes I don't Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: mention it to people. Yeah. Daniel: Yeah, that's fair. Seemed Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: like it would have been a good time though, but that's okay. Austin The PI: Yeah, but RJ Decker looks pretty good. Daniel: Sorry. Still figuring this thing out. Austin The PI: No, it's okay. It was it was valid. Yeah, yeah, that was an accident, I bet. So it RJ Decker does look good. It looks like like I said, like Magnum PI. I'll have to watch an episode. That would probably and I'll report back how that. Daniel: Yeah, do that. Same. Austin The PI: I'll I'll do that for next week. I'll watch I'll watch the first episode. Daniel: All right. Austin The PI: On to the next. Daniel: We're on to the next we're moving on to the next segment of the show. We've got story time. Bedtime stories. What you got for us today, Austin? Austin The PI: Hmm. Bedtime stories with Austin. Yeah, try not to fall asleep to this one, you know what I'm saying? Daniel: Or try to. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah, here's the thing. If let me let me drop it down a tone. If this voice is something that you'd like to fall asleep to, let me know in the comments. Daniel: I like that. Austin The PI: That's too much. Daniel: I like listening to stuff when I fall asleep. So I Austin The PI: Same. Daniel: would en I would enjoy that. I would appreciate that. Austin The PI: Maybe I'll record you like a private podcast that you could listen to. While you while you fall Daniel: Just me. Austin The PI: asleep. Yeah. I I mean, yeah. For your birthday or something. Daniel: That is three. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah. And that's I forgot to mention this in the sponsored section. If anybody else wants that, I'm gonna be dropping those soon. It's kinda it's kinda like cameo. it's gonna be five hundred dollars a video and it you could just I'll send you a ten minute you know what? It's five hundred dollars. Send you a twenty minute. I'm just kidding. Daniel: Like Patreon on another level. Austin The PI: I'm just kidding, but but actually just slide my DMs if you want that. Alright. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't say it like that right after I gave out my phone number. Okay. So this story this this happened a long time ago and I made a video about this today and it's so funny. this dude con it's Daniel: All right. Set the scene. Where where are we? When are we? Austin The PI: Yeah. I can't tell you where we are, but I can tell you Daniel: Can you say is it is it the US? Austin The PI: yeah, yeah, I can tell you we're in North Carolina. I could say that. Daniel: Sweet. North Carolina. Austin The PI: and it's funny, I posted a a reel about this today and I told an abbreviated version of this story, and one of the first comments I saw was like, Who actually believes this? 'Cause it does sound crazy, but like it's a hundred percent true. So this Daniel: Ooh, it's gonna be good. Austin The PI: yeah, this is a good one. So this lady Daniel: What what time of year is it? Austin The PI: Hmm. Well, that's the thing. It spans multiple months. Daniel: okay. Austin The PI: So, but it was, I can't remember if it was no, it was definitely summer. So it probably started in spring and then went into like late summer. So this lady calls and she hires us, and basically she she's like, Guys, I need your help. My husband's cheating on me. He's been cheating on me for a long time and I know it, but I don't have any proof. And we are currently separated. And this is a good topic. Daniel: Mm-hmm. Right. Austin The PI: she's like, we're currently separated, but I need proof that he's cheating on me so I can take it to court. And the reason is is because I own a factory and I'm a multi, multi-millionaire. And so he stands to make multiple, multiple millions, like we're talking Eight digits in the divorce. And I basically like I don't want to pay him that because he's the reason we are getting divorced because he's been cheating on me. So can you help me with this? And I'm like, gang, gang. All right, bet. Let's get it. Bruh. Daniel: Dang, dang. Austin The PI: That's what I said. And she was like, and she was like this. She didn't do that. Daniel: I knew it. Austin The PI: but I did. Yeah, so I'm like, sket it. And then she's like, Okay, I own the vehicle. So can we put a tracking device on it? And so if you if you're not aware, in North Carolina, you have to have the re the vehicle registered to you. It doesn't ha you don't have to own it, but it has to be registered to you like you're the operator, right? Or one of them. And there has to be no history of domestic violence between the two people. So like let's say me and Daniel were married. If me and Daniel were married and I wanted to have Daniel followed, I have to be registered, like his vehicle has to be registered to me, and I could never have beaten Daniel and gotten a charge for it, right? Daniel: So impossible. Austin The PI: Never that would never happen, Daniel. Don't lead these people astray. I've I've only ever had gentle hands with you, okay? Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: Okay. So that's that's the scenario, right? And so she's like, I want to put a tracking device on his car. And I'm like, All right, bet. So what that looks like is I get a tracking device and they're like this big, right? It's like a little, Daniel: Yep. Austin The PI: like a little otter box. Remember those otter boxes? It's like a little otter Daniel: Yeah. I remember. Austin The PI: box. And then it has two magnets, like industrial magnets on the bottom. And you go, you sneak up to the car, and then you get under there and you've got a flashlight. This is my flashlight and I'm shining it up there. And you want just a flashlight that you just click on and click off. It's just got one setting. I've got a specific one that I use. It's a Coast G20. I've got my Coast G20, right? And I get under there, pop the the tracking device on, and then I scurry out of there. And they last for about a week. back then. Now you can get them to last like a month, two months with the battery. I know. Daniel: That's nuts. Austin The PI: And it's it's literally like a cell phone. It's like it has it is a cellphone receiver in there and it has glow nas, like GPS, everything. Daniel: Dang. So if anyone's Austin The PI: Super cool. Daniel: listening right now and they're like me, they might be thinking, dang, I could have a tracker on my car. Austin The PI: A hundred percent. You go on Amazon, you can just get one. Daniel: W where should we look? Austin The PI: Amazon. Daniel: Like on the car. Austin The PI: I understand. I thought you meant I thought you meant like I can go buy a tracker and put it on my car, which you totally can. Daniel: Well, that too. But no, I meant like anyone could have thrown a tracker on my car at any point. And I don't check for that kind of thing. Austin The PI: Totally. A hundred percent. Yeah, and it would be illegal if they did, but like unless Taylor did it. She didn't though. So where you should look is underneath your car, basically underneath you've got your chassis, right? You know what the chassis is? Spelled it's spelled chassis, pronounced chassis. Daniel: Cha C H A Austin The PI: C H A S S I S Daniel: Kinda like Chelsea and Cassie. Austin The PI: Yeah. But it's spelled chassis. Daniel: Chassis. Austin The PI: Yep. I'm in a I'm in a weird mood tonight and it's coming through. It's coming in hot. Daniel: Sure is. Austin The PI: Yeah, so you there's there's the chassis, which is usually solid steel. Basically, you need those magnets to bite onto something and you need it to bite onto something that's not gonna get hot because you've got a lithium battery in there. So if you put it on like, for example, the bottom of the engine, that that battery is gonna explode. So you need it to go onto like the chassis or or another piece of metal. I don't I don't know. Probably not the fuel tank. You don't want to do that. Anyways, yeah. You would look underneath on the the railing of your car, or it could be inside your car, like under your seats. I've done that plenty of times. Daniel: wow. Austin The PI: Like put it under the seats, or if they've got a dirty car, like put it in a sock, put it under the seat. Put it in a sock, put it in the Daniel: Day. Just if the if the car is unlocked? Austin The PI: no, I'll get with the client on that. I don't go in anybody's car. Yeah. Daniel: okay. Austin The PI: I ain't doing that. Heck no. Yeah. Yeah. Just throw it and Daniel: Throw it in there. Throw an air tag in there. Catch this. Austin The PI: run. Yeah. People, people have put like if they're trying to just track somebody for a few minutes, they've put air tags in their like gas cap. Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: But it's an air tag. It's gonna alert them. Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: Wow. Okay, so anyway, back to the story. Austin The PI: Yes. Excuse me, back to the story. So I put the tracker on the car. And what I did was we're we're in North Carolina. I just went down the road to a Starbucks, pulled out my my laptop, and I was just like working, double dipping basically, while I'm keeping track of this tracker, right? Cause it it updates real time. It's like delayed by a minute. And so I would just check it every couple of minutes. And I didn't need to see like right when they left. I needed to see within like 10 minutes. but this way is like golden because they never see anybody behind them. You just show up where they're at, and then they leave, you show up in the next place, show up at the next place, like they never even know you're there. And so Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: we did that. And one month went by, two months went by, another month went by. Four months went by and we're still following. We followed this guy for four months straight. Daniel: Then Austin The PI: Yeah. And it wasn't every day, but it was every week. And this lady p paid us over forty thousand dollars. I know. But the thing is, in month four, so this whole time we're we're catching him going to the grocery store. We're catching him going to a park to go on a walk with his dog. Or Daniel: Nothing. Austin The PI: going to play baseball. Like Daniel: Squad. Austin The PI: yeah, going to yeah, going to go shopping or something like that. So we never caught him with anybody else other than his friends, just doing social things. Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: Until we got to the fourth month. Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: Then one day I'm at the Starbucks doing my tippy tap typing. I Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: see the tracker move and it goes down to a park close by, about 20 minutes away. Which is like, okay, we're at a park. I go to the park. And who does he meet at the park? Daniel: I don't know. Austin The PI: A girl. Daniel: A girl. Austin The PI: Yeah, yeah. Pretty anticlimactic. I mean, that's what we were after. He met a girl there. And so, I mean, they just kind of hung out at the park, took his dog for a walk, and it's like a very wooded park. So I'm like walking out there with them and getting pictures. And then get back in the car, go back home. And at this point, I'm staying with him because like this is like what we've been waiting for. And so I'm like Daniel: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Austin The PI: right behind him. We get to their house and then or his house, he gets out and then for whatever reason he like kisses her outside the car, which is like great. Then they go inside, which is really what we want, like time for them to be alone. after we have a little bit of proof that they're romantic together, and they stay in there for a few hours. Then she comes out and goes home. And that was all they needed. And then we we did prove it again, but yeah, dude, four months with nothing. And the thing is, like most clients would give up. Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: You know, 'cause that's a lot of money. Daniel: How long would most hold out for? Like a month, two months? Austin The PI: It's it's different with every private investigator. But like for example, if you were to call me and and you wanted to do a consultation and you're like, hey, I need this XYZ investigated, I would probably give you a quote of like somewhere in the range of $2,000 and say this will get Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: you about 20 hours of surveillance and a report. Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: And then if we didn't get anything in that first round, some people might do another round or like even fewer will do three rounds, right? Daniel: Right. Austin The PI: not many people will do more than three rounds, but some private investigators charge like six thousand up front and and it's non refundable, you know. It just depends on who you work with. There's not like a standard for that necessarily. That's just what I've always done. Daniel: Wow. So it really depends Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: how much money they got. Austin The PI: Yeah, and and she had a Daniel: How badly they want to find out. Austin The PI: she had a lot. But she also saved a Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: lot. Daniel: True. Yeah. So it could yeah. Could be seen as a way to save some money. Austin The PI: Yeah, it's a smart investment. Like I said, we were talking eight figures. Daniel: Well, thanks for sharing. Austin The PI: Yeah, yeah, that was like that was a fun one. That's one where you definitely feel like a spy. You're following the same person Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: for four months and you you're never actually following them. You just show up where they're at. Daniel: Did you get bored? Like, at what point are you Austin The PI: dude. Daniel: like, I'm not gonna find anything on this guy? Or are you just sitting in your van eating Reese's peanut butter cups and like making money? Austin The PI: Funny that you would make that joke. Considering you're allergic to peanuts. Daniel: I think I saw it on Surveillance Snacks recently on your Instagram. Austin The PI: you watch those? Daniel: Yeah, I love snacks dude. Although those Austin The PI: Dude, nobody watches this. Daniel: what was the was it Ritz? No, not Ritz. It was Cheese Its or something that were like Coors Light flavored. Austin The PI: dude, those are so good. Daniel: That's terrible. Austin The PI: No dude, you ever had beer cheese? Are you kidding me? They did smell like they Daniel: Yeah. You're right. You're right. Austin The PI: smell like feet. Daniel: Yeah. I bet. Gotta brush your Austin The PI: It smelled awful. Daniel: teeth after that. Austin The PI: they were so good, dude. Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah. No, so I I mean, in one sense, yes, you dig you do get bored on that kind of job. But at the same time, I'm chilling out of Starbucks doing basically getting paid to do other work. Like I'm getting paid twice, essentially. It Daniel: Yeah, yeah. Austin The PI: I mean, it was like you're living your best life. That was so fun. But Daniel: That's pretty sweet. Austin The PI: It's a little bit demoralizing 'cause you wanna get results for the client, but while you're actually doing it, no, dude, this is so fun. Daniel: Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: answer this 'cause I saw someone ask this on the video you posted on Instagram. and I thought it was a good question. Someone said, Austin The PI: Mm-hmm. Daniel: But if they were separated, how is it proof that he's cheating? They were already not living Austin The PI: Yep. Daniel: together and had already agreed to separate, so is it still considered cheating? Austin The PI: That's great question. And and the answer is yes, it is, depending on the state. And here's the thing. I wish more states were like this. And here's my line of thinking. So in North Carolina, you have to be separated for a year before you can get divorced, right? Did Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: you know that? Daniel: Maybe. Austin The PI: Maybe, yeah. Some states you don't. I think Florida you don't. I don't know. I I need to know that. But anyways, in those states you have to be separated for a year and you can't be like romantically involved or like I I think maybe it it might be like intimate. Anyways, you you can be proven cheating if you're separated. And the reason I like that is because let's say your divor your relationship comes to a a point where you're gonna separate really quickly and you didn't have a suspicion that they were cheating before that point. Then you're separated and you didn't have a chance to prove that they were cheating. Because like you didn't suspect anything until they moved out. I've had multiple Daniel: Right. Austin The PI: cases like that. They're like, I had no clue what was going on until right now. Until you told me what you found. Yeah. Daniel: Dang. Yeah. Right. Austin The PI: And so that's why I like that rule. now it can get to where it's like they've been separated for too long and now it's like it's you know, did that really cause you guys to to separate or was it just something that happened naturally after you became separated, you know? So it kind of cuts both ways. Daniel: Yeah. Makes sense. Good question. Austin The PI: Yeah. But the yeah, sorry. One more point on that. The other reason I like it is because alienation of affection is something that people can sue the paramour for. So if you can prove that they knew they were married and that they wooed them, they participated in taking them away from their spouse, right? So let's say you're married to Taylor, right? Daniel wants I mean, Austin wants a piece of Daniel. And I woo you to get you away from Taylor, that's called alienation of affection. Taylor can sue me. Daniel: Than Austin The PI: How you like how you like them apples, bruh? Daniel: Wait, that's kind of wild. Austin The PI: I like that. I like that. I like that. Daniel: You like that? Have you you ever found someone guilty of that? Or like Austin The PI: yeah, dude. Daniel: helped Austin The PI: You you kidding me in the military? Yeah. Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: Yeah. I know it's wild, isn't it? Daniel: Alien nation of affection. Austin The PI: Yeah, alienation. Daniel: In America. We got aliens in our own military. For all for everyone out there listening to alien podcasts. Austin The PI: We getting off topic, bruh. Let's hey, dude, let's reel it back in, okay? Daniel: All right, let's drill it back in. all right. Austin The PI: Ask ask me what I'm sipping on. Daniel: It's QA time. We got questions. Austin's got answers. First question is what are you sipping on? Austin The PI: Caffeine free diet coke. Daniel: Ropes. Austin The PI: no, dude, it tastes exactly like the real thing. Daniel: On treat odd dog too. Austin The PI: Yeah, coming from the Gliz doctor. Daniel: I actually didn't realize until recently that there are that Diet Coke had caffeine and caffeine free versions. Austin The PI: Dude, I'm gonna be really vulnerable right now. There are some days before I started buying two liters of caffeine-free Diet Coke, I would go, I would have a cup of coffee in the morning. This is gonna sound heinous, Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: what I'm about to tell you. I would have a cup of coffee in the morning, then I would go Daniel: All right. Austin The PI: to the store and get a monster, and Daniel: All right. Austin The PI: then I would come back to the house and I'd have like seven Diet Cokes throughout the day. So so we're talking 160 milligrams in the cup of coffee, 160 in the monster, then we're talking like another. Five hundred milligrams of caffeine? That's a lot of caffeine, dude. Daniel: That's a lot. Austin The PI: I know. Daniel: Wasn't it was it you? Didn't you have this coffee when we were in college? You Austin The PI: Yep, death wish. Daniel: know Death Wish, yeah. How much was in Austin The PI: wait. Daniel: that? Austin The PI: yeah. It was like three hundred milligrams. Daniel: That's too much. That's just like a Austin The PI: Dude, Daniel: double shot though, right? Austin The PI: I used to take I used to make jet fuel. I used to take like make a pot of coffee. You remember that? Daniel: someone told me about this the other day. No, Austin The PI: I would Daniel: someone told me this at the party. I've meant to ask you about this. Austin The PI: Dude, I would make a pot of coffee and then I would re brew it like four times. Like with new coffee every time. Daniel: Like coffee instead of water. Austin The PI: Yeah, I would take the pot of coffee, pour it back in the coffee pot and rebrew it. Daniel: O rebrew it over new coffee. So it's like Austin The PI: Yeah, dude. That's what happens when when there's something when everything inside you has died and you just want to feel something, you have to do that kind of stuff. Daniel: That's actually that's not the version of the jet fuel that I heard. I heard that you mixed like a monster or a Red Bull in your coffee. Austin The PI: I would do that. I'll tr dude, I'll try that tomorrow. Are you kidding me? Daniel: Ha ha ha. Austin The PI: I'll send you a picture. I'll put it no, do you Daniel: that's terrible. Austin The PI: I'll d I'll post this on my Instagram. That's a great idea. Daniel: All right, ask me what I'm drinking. Austin The PI: Yeah, yeah, Dane, what are you sipping on? I haven't seen you take a sip at anything this whole time. Daniel: Well, I got an empty mug of hot apple cider. Austin The PI: Ooh. man, first day of fall and he's Daniel: Which was delicious. Austin The PI: already he's already breaking out the cider. Daniel: I know, right? Is it the first no, Austin The PI: For for reference it was Daniel: it's not the first day of fall. Austin The PI: For for reference, it was eighty degrees today. Daniel: Got my jacket on. I'm set. And Just to make sure I get my daily cup of water, I have one probably eight ounce glass of water, maybe ten ounces. Austin The PI: And you what I tell Kayla all the time? You know what Diet Coke is mostly made of? Water. Daniel: Caffeine. Austin The PI: Yeah, I was like, call my doctor. Daniel: All right. Let's ask some other questions. Austin The PI: All right, next question. Daniel: here's a good one. This one came from Instagram. I'm gonna start with this one. maybe all of these came from Instagram. I don't remember. but again, we're gonna plug this. If you got questions for Austin to answer, or me, I'll answer questions. we dedicate the last segment of our show to QA. So you ask, we'll answer. And This question we got today on our page was how much law do you have to know slash memorize? Do you have to study law? Austin The PI: that's a great question. So Daniel: It is. Austin The PI: do you need to study law to be a private investigator? Not necessarily. So like I didn't go to law school. Daniel: What about so so don't think of it that way. Think about it as an existing private investigator. Do you have to Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: like study it to keep up with things? Cases. Austin The PI: That's a good, that's a good clarification. Yes and no. So there are certain things. So it's kind of like it's kind of like on the job training. As you do the job, you realize like, I don't understand how this law works. I need to learn it. And so like Daniel: Right. Right. Austin The PI: you build up that knowledge after a while, and then you don't need to read up on it unless unless there is a change, and you will hear you'll hear about it from the lawyers you work with. Does that make sense? Daniel: Yeah, there's probably like certain laws that are most relevant to what you're dealing with. Austin The PI: And and they're most of the time those don't change very often. Like like the one that I mentioned earlier with the tracking devices. That has been the law and has not changed ever since I've been a private investigator. And I know from work like growing up with my dad, it didn't change in like the 20 years before that either. like yeah, there are certain ones that you definitely have to know, but they will come about through. experience and on the job training, Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: depending if you have a good mentor. Now, if you don't, you most likely come from a law enforcement background. And it'll just it'll make sense that you need to get educated on that part of the law because you'd be like, tracking device, I need to figure that out. Like just as an example. So Daniel: Mm-hmm. Austin The PI: yeah, most of it is just from on the job training and realizing that you need a better understanding of what you're doing. Daniel: Yeah. Makes sense. Austin The PI: Yeah. So I don't I don't go and read a bunch of laws most of the time. There are some statutes that I'll read as far as like I need to know what my goal is to get certain evidence so that it can be most effective. Does that make sense? Like I need to know what the what the criteria for this law is so that I can know if it's been like broken by this person I'm investigating. Daniel: Yeah. Sweet. Austin The PI: That's good question. Daniel: Yeah, very interesting. All right, we got another one. this one's good too. Hey Austin, been following for a while. Honest question. How much of PI work is actually surveillance versus sitting in a computer? The reels make it look fifty fifty. Austin The PI: Yeah, thanks Gemini. it sound Daniel: Okay. Austin The PI: it sounds a little a little generated to me. Daniel: Well, I left out a part that said L O L so there's the there's the human touch. Austin The PI: okay. All right. never mind. Sorry, Gemini. Yeah, so it in reality, it just depends. It depends on how you structure your business. For me, I probably do surveillance 30% of the time. The vast majority of what I do is actually criminal investigations, insurance investigations, like actually on site and interviewing people. And then I do a ton of computer work where I'm looking people up, trying to locate a document, trying to locate a person or doing background checks, that kind of stuff. I do a lot of Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: telephone interviews. Yeah. Daniel: Yeah, how much time would you s or percentage wise would you say you do interviews? 'Cause it's quite a bit. Like when we're Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: hanging out, more often than not, like when I see you working on stuff you're doing, you have to like take an interview. Austin The PI: Yeah. It I I do I do interviews probably you know, not the whole day, but like three or four days a week I'm doing interviews. Yeah, and I'm doing stuff in between it. Daniel: Yeah. So more interviews and surveillance. Austin The PI: Totally. Yeah. I do a lot of interviews, Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: but that's my focus. That I don't think that's most private investigators' focus. but I wish I wish more private investigators knew that they could do that. I think a lot of PIs don't really know that you can. Daniel: Interesting. Speaking of rookie PIs, our next question Austin The PI: Ooh. Daniel: is what's the biggest mistake new PIs make when they're just starting out? Asking for a friend, the friend is me. Not me, but yeah. The person asking. Austin The PI: Right. Yeah. I think I think one I think one thing that a lot of rookie PIs don't don't get right, and it's not necessarily their fault. It's I think it's more the industry as a whole. The this industry, like with me growing up in it and watching my dad work in it, my dad's not like this, but a lot of PIs are total gatekeepers. Like they will they do not Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: want to collaborate. And I think that is the the dumbest thing in the world. Because it's like I have made so many good connections just since starting my Instagram. So many good connections Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: with other PIs, like that have really helped me, whether it's getting more business or like I couldn't find a record and I needed help finding it because they have better connections in that state. It's just like people think like they're gonna steal my business and I have to be like it's like, bro, if that's if that's the case. Then you're expendable and not good enough at your job. Like you don't you don't Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: understand how to keep your clients happy if that's the case. Because Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: or you don't understand how to get more clients. If I lost a client, I'd be bummed, but I'd just go get another client. You know? So Daniel: Yeah. That's like business advice, I feel like, is like the same thing applies even if you're not a PI. Like if you can't Austin The PI: totally. Daniel: if you can't be open enough to like help out someone else in business or make a referral or share some advice or something like that, like You're kind of yeah, you're being too tight with things. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah. Well, and it's also like, how do you expect the next generation to learn and understand and like have an affinity for these kinds of skills if you're not willing to like take somebody under your wing? You know, or Daniel: That's right. Yeah. Austin The PI: just or just even help somebody that you might never talk to again. Like somebody's coming to you for help and they they're trying to get started. The the thing to do is help them so that there's more good information out in the field. Making you look good. Daniel: Speaking of, gosh, I love when these just flow right into the next and you just tee up Austin The PI: isn't that great, dude? Daniel: the next question. speaking of sharing information from one generation to the next, your dad was FBI, right? Austin The PI: Yes. Daniel: What's one thing he taught you that they'd never teach in a PI course? Wasn't that beautiful? Just that setup. Austin The PI: Ooh. Yeah. Ding. Daniel: Think? Austin The PI: So Daniel: That was pretty good. It's a slam. Austin The PI: Yeah. Coming in hot. Yeah. I'm about to drop Daniel: Flammer. Austin The PI: this on you like a like an anvil, dude. So that's the thing. My dad is like the best example of this. Always giving away free advice, always teaching people to the best of his ability. Goes and speaks at all these different places. And like he's he's just looked up to by a lot of people. Obviously, me, the way I'm talking about him. But And it's gonna be cool, he's gonna be on the podcast. He already agreed to. but one of the things that he taught me, so he's a very talented interviewer. And and one of the things that he taught me was in law enforcement, there are there are like different types of interviewers, right? Naturally. But there's one type Daniel: Good cop, bad cop. Austin The PI: exactly, and that's exactly what I'm getting at. So I I'm sure a lot of people have heard by now. Interrogations. So like think CIA. Like when when people are being interrogated, torture never works. Torture, it's it's like very clear now in studies that torture does not produce effective results. In the same Daniel: Mm. Austin The PI: way with interrogations or just interviewing, a lot of cops used to believe and some still do. That if you go in there and you sweat people, like you just go come in hot and heavy, that that's an effective Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: strategy. And it is not. so what I've watched my dad do, and I've watched I've I've watched murderers and rapists tell my dad like things that you never thought they would say, just because he is so good at like assimilating to people, and then once you make them feel comfortable, you get really quiet. And and even even in that like assimilated position, you can be stern and they can see that that like you mean business. And with that quietness, they will spill so much more than you asked. Just because you're quiet and you let that awkwardness like rest. It it's Daniel: Yeah. Austin The PI: it's crazy to watch. And I've tried to to, you know, like proctor that myself, but he's the goat at it. Yeah. But I think Daniel: Dang. I gotta try that. Austin The PI: yeah, I think a lot of people have a hard time teaching that because it's it's a social skill, like it's a it's an empathy skill. And so you have to have some sort of like emotional intelligence to even understand it. Daniel: Yeah, that's nuts. Sweet. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah, it's a it's a cool one. Daniel: That is a good one. I feel like that's a good one to end it on. Austin The PI: Yeah, I think so too. I think that was kind of like that's one of my favorite questions. Yeah. Daniel: Yeah. All right. Austin The PI: But wait, I I have a question for Daniel first. Daniel: One more. Austin The PI: what what has what has what has the podcast done for you so far? Like how you liking it? Is it tickling you? Daniel: Changed my life, dude. I mean, before pre-podcast, Austin The PI: Yeah. Daniel: I had so much time, didn't know what to do with my free time. I would just spent days dreaming about podcasting with you. And now all my dreams have come true. And I Austin The PI: Wow. Daniel: Have a full schedule and a full life, and it's just been the best. Austin The PI: Wow. I was not expecting that. Wow. You really really really glizzing me up there, aren't ya? Daniel: Yeah, so all that to say, can't wait for next week. Austin The PI: Yeah. Yeah. maybe I'll bring some hot dogs. Daniel: Cool. Maybe I'll bring my juice box. Austin The PI: All right. Daniel: I guess I was drinking like apple juice today. Austin The PI: I'm I'm very confused, but Daniel: I'll explain it offline. Austin The PI: Sounds good. All right, everybody. Thanks for joining. catch us next week for for episode four. And like we said earlier, if you need a private investigator, hit me up. Daniel: That's right. Peace. Austin The PI: Peace.