The Process of Person Locating: From Start to Finish

Introduction:
When someone goes missing whether its a long-lost relative, a debtor, or a witness in a legal case, the process of person locating becomes essential. At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we specialize in person locating services that deliver results that are legal and ethical. Our expert private investigators use proven techniques to find missing persons, providing closure and answers for clients across New York, including New York City and Long Island.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process of person locating from start to finish, shedding light on how our skip tracing services work and why hiring a professional private investigator is the smartest choice.

Step 1: Initial Consultation and Information Gathering

✅ Understanding Your Needs: Whether you’re searching for a missing loved one, reconnecting with family, or tracking someone for legal reasons, we start by collecting key details.
✅ Critical Information Includes:

• Full name
• Last known location
• Date of birth
• Social security number (if available)
• Habits, relationships, and reasons for disappearance

During this phase, we also analyze any past connections, previous addresses, employment history, and other records that may provide further leads. Understanding a person’s lifestyle, habits, and relationships helps build a profile that enhances the search process.
At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we prioritize confidentiality, ensuring your personal information and case details remain secure. Our person locating services are customized to suit each case, setting a strong foundation for success.

Step 2: Leveraging Public and Private Records

📂 Database Research: We conduct thorough research into public and private records to uncover new leads. This process, often called skip tracing, involves searching databases for:

• Property records
• Court filings
• Utility bills
• Vehicle registrationsEmployment history

📌 Key Advantage: Our access to proprietary databases helps us track individuals who may have intentionally obscured their whereabouts, turning vague leads into actionable insights. For more complex cases, we may analyze  business affiliations, and known associates to identify patterns that lead to a person’s whereabouts. Our expertise in cross-referencing multiple data sources allows us to uncover crucial details that others might miss.

Step 3: Online and Social Media Investigation

🌐 Digital Footprint Analysis: In today’s digital era, social media and online activity can provide valuable clues. Our team analyzes:

• Social media profiles
• Public websites & forums
• Connections & tagged locations

🕵️ Using OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence): A critical component of modern investigations, OSINT involves collecting publicly available data from:

• Social media posts
• Public records
• Online forums & news sources
• Digital archives

Many people leave digital footprints without realizing it. Even if an individual is not active online, their friends, family, or business associates might share useful information that can help pinpoint a location. We use advanced search techniques to uncover hidden usernames, email addresses, and mentions that may be scattered across the internet.
With advanced OSINT techniques, we can uncover hidden connections, verify identities, and locate individuals effectively—all while adhering to strict legal and ethical guidelines.

Step 4: Fieldwork and Surveillance

🚗 On-the-Ground Investigation: While digital research is invaluable, sometimes boots-on-the-ground work is necessary.

• Visiting last known addresses
• Interviewing neighbors & associates
• Monitoring public locations
  If a lead points to a specific neighborhood, workplace, or frequently visited location, our investigators will discreetly verify in-person whether the individual has been seen recently.

🎥 Surveillance Techniques: For high-priority cases, we employ discreet surveillance with state-of-the-art equipment to confirm an individual’s presence without violating privacy.
Our team balances discretion and effectiveness, ensuring that our investigations remain legal, ethical, and highly effective in person locating.

Step 5: Verification and Client Reporting

• ✔️ Cross-Checking Findings: Before concluding an investigation, we attempt to verify our findings through multiple sources. This may involve:

1. Physical descriptions
2. Third-party confirmations
3. Photographic evidence (if applicable)

• 📄 Final Report: Clients receive a comprehensive report detailing our findings, the methods used, and the whereabouts of the individual. If legal action or personal contact is required, our reports provide actionable information to proceed with confidence.

The Difference Between Person Locating and Skip Tracing

• 🔍 Person Locating:

1. ✅ Broad scope – Used for missing persons, long-lost family members, runaway cases, or legal witnesses.
2. ✅ Deep investigative work – Includes database research, OSINT, surveillance, and in-person verification.
3. ✅ More detailed and personal – Often involves emotional and personal stakes for the client.

• 💼 Skip Tracing:

1. ✅ Targeted for legal/financial matters: Primarily used to locate debtors, court respondents, or business defaulters.
2. ✅ Heavily reliant on records: Uses database searches, credit headers, and property records.
3. ✅ Faster turnaround time: Skip tracing focuses on efficiency, often skipping personal interviews and field investigations.

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we offer both services with customized approaches tailored to each case’s unique circumstances.

The Importance of Ethical and Legal Compliance

⚖️ Why Work with a Licensed Investigator?

Many online search services use questionable methods that could lead to legal risks. Our licensed team ensures that all investigations adhere to state and federal laws, protecting you and the integrity of your case.
In cases involving sensitive legal matters, hiring an experienced private investigator ensures that information is obtained legally and ethically, minimizing risks and ensuring results that stand up in court if needed.

Contact Us for Expert Person Locating Services

If you need to locate someone—whether for personal reasons or legal matters—trust the professionals. Contact Easton Secure Solutions LLC today for a confidential consultation. Our experienced private investigators are ready to guide you through the entire person locating process, ensuring peace of mind and results you can trust.