Employee Theft Investigations identify who is taking stock, cash or time, and gather evidence that will stand up in a disciplinary hearing. Send one request and independent investigators reply with availability and prices.
Describe the losses and how long they have been happening to get quotes.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat It Involves
- Loss analysis. Stock counts, till records and access logs to narrow down when and where.
- Covert cameras. Lawful placement in work areas, in line with your policies.
- Surveillance. Following stock or staff off site.
- Undercover placement. An investigator working alongside staff.
- Interviews and polygraph. Structured interviews and voluntary polygraph tests.
Who Uses It
Retailers, warehouses, factories, restaurants, farms and offices with unexplained shrinkage, cash shortages or abuse of sick leave and overtime.
What to Send First
- The type of business and what is going missing.
- Roughly how much and since when.
- Whether you have cameras and access control.
- How many staff could be involved.
Do not upload documents, statements or evidence through the request form. The investigator will ask for what is needed once you agree to go ahead.
How It Works
- Briefing. A confidential discussion with management only.
- Plan. Methods and timeline agreed, often a mix of records review and covert work.
- Evidence gathering. Footage, surveillance, stock reconciliation and statements.
- Report. Findings and evidence prepared for a hearing or SAPS.
Findings and Reporting
A report naming what was found, with photographs, footage extracts and statements, and recommendations to tighten controls.
Limits
Investigators may not intercept calls or messages, access email or bank accounts, or obtain private records such as bank statements or phone records without consent or a court order. No investigator can guarantee a result, recovery of money or that evidence will be accepted by a court.
Cameras may not be placed in toilets or change rooms. Polygraph results support, but do not on their own prove, a dismissal.
Employee Theft Investigations Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Basic loss investigation | R5,000 - R15,000 |
| Covert camera installation and monitoring | R8,000 - R25,000 |
| Undercover operation | R15,000 - R50,000 |
| Polygraph test, per employee | R1,000 - R2,500 |
| Investigator hourly rate | R500 - R1,500 per hour |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Indicative ballpark figures in rand, rounded. They are compiled from prices published by South African investigation firms and typical market rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no investigator is bound by them. Confirm VAT, travel and what each quotation includes.
Get prices for your business rather than a range. Send one request, with no obligation.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Method. Undercover work costs more than records review.
- Duration. Theft that happens occasionally takes longer to catch.
- Sites and shifts. More locations and night shifts add cost.
- Polygraphs. Priced per person tested.
Employee Theft Investigations FAQs
Can I put hidden cameras in my workplace?
Generally yes in work areas, if your policies cover it and privacy areas are excluded. Take labour advice first.
Can I make staff take a polygraph?
No. A polygraph must be voluntary, with written consent.
Will the evidence hold up at the CCMA?
Lawfully gathered evidence, properly documented, is commonly used. No investigator can guarantee the outcome.
How quickly can theft be identified?
It depends how often it happens. Daily losses are faster to trace than occasional ones.
Related Services
Request employee theft investigation quotes through Private Investigators South Africa and compare each investigator's methods and timeline.
Private Investigators South Africa is a referral and quote service. We do not carry out investigations and we do not employ investigators. Work is quoted and carried out by independent investigators, and your agreement is with the one you choose. Ask for a written quotation and proof of PSIRA registration before you pay a deposit. No investigator can promise a particular result or that evidence will be accepted by a court.
Employee Theft Investigations. Describe what you need once and get the best quote, fast.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteGet the Best Quote, Fast
Keep it brief. Do not send ID documents, passwords, intimate images or evidence through this form. Your enquiry is passed only to investigators suited to the job, and you decide whether to go ahead.
Client Reviews
Powered by leaderr
