At the beginning of December 2017, the Rheinische Post published an article by Peter Witt about the work of Kurtz Detective Agency and the person of our chief detective Patrick Kurtz. Below is a transcription of this article with additional topic-relevant links and subheadings:

"Sherlock Holmes from Erkrather Straße"

As a child, Patrick Kurtz devoured books about the British detective. Today, he works in his profession with passion – but also needs a great deal of patience and concentration. By Peter Michael Witt

From Literature to Reality

Not a few young people, following in the footsteps of the mysterious Hound of the Baskervilles, drift into fantasies and dream of an extraordinary, romantic career goal: to be a detective like the man with the checked cap, the pipe, the golden magnifying glass – in short, to lead an exciting life like Sherlock Holmes. A young boy named Patrick Kurtz in Schleiz, Thuringia, also devoured Arthur Conan Doyle's crime stories. The difference from other boys: when they grow up, they often choose a conventional profession instead. Kurtz, however, fulfilled his childhood dream and became a private detective. The passionate pipe smoker quickly built a large detective network, with seven permanent employees and nearly 50 freelance staff, across a total of 28 branches – one of them in Düsseldorf, the Kurtz Detective Agency in Flingern.

 

Kurtz therefore has a good overview of detective work in Germany. Certain differences between cities certainly exist, but nothing surprising. "Of course, in Berlin, investigations mostly take place among huge apartment blocks, in Düsseldorf more often in villa districts," says Kurtz. "In cities like Frankfurt and Hamburg, the work occasionally leads into the red-light and drug milieu, where even tough guys like the Hells Angels cross your path." By comparison, Düsseldorf is quite inconspicuous. Kurtz: "Most cases here concern suspected infidelity, disputed maintenance matters, or custody issues."

(Training) Requirements for Detectives in Germany

In principle, anyone can be a detective; the term is not protected. But from Kurtz’s perspective, solid training is essential for good detective work. He received his training at the Security Academy in Berlin. Legal knowledge is important, as one must gather court-admissible evidence. Of course, not everyone is born a Marlowe or Holmes. Physical fitness is advantageous, as tailing suspects can be demanding, and intelligence certainly does not hurt. After all, many cases involve rather unclear facts that require good powers of deduction.

 

In real life, detective work is far more limited than in fictional crime stories. A private detective may not invade the privacy of the person under observation. It is forbidden to photograph inside homes or gain access, and the use of directional microphones is also taboo. Above all, a detective must research and observe, locate missing persons, or monitor individuals who may have committed wrongdoing. Kurtz has even been caught himself. "Not often, but in rural areas it can happen, especially due to neighbours. And then it can get uncomfortable." It may not sound pleasant, but it is thrilling. It can also be tediously boring and frustrating. Staring at a door that does not open for ten hours straight requires above-average patience and concentration. Things get exciting during pursuits. Among a detective’s special moments of satisfaction is an experience Kurtz calls the "domino effect." It occurs quite frequently during investigations: once the crucial puzzle piece is found, many other questions often resolve themselves.

 

Kurtz tries to suppress any sympathy for the person under surveillance. However, he recalls a case in which he was hired by a jealous man to watch his girlfriend. "I ended the assignment myself after a month," says Kurtz. "She really went straight home every day after work. I felt sorry for her; she was clearly stuck in a relationship with extremely little trust. Her boyfriend could not build trust even after 20 days of strict observation, during which nothing at all came to light."

Detective Work Then and Now

Back to Holmes: much has changed in recent years, particularly technology. Arthur Conan Doyle depicted certain investigative methods in his novels that were only adopted by the police decades later – fingerprinting, for example. Today, disguise remains just as important for detectives as it was in the past. Kurtz smiles: "We do not go to the same elaborate lengths as Holmes with makeup, but we do change appearances with simple means." Digitalisation has also introduced new tools such as smartphones. "Admittedly," says Kurtz, "detective life is far less spectacular than in the novels. In those stories, there are always thrilling murders from one case to the next, minute by minute. Certainly, I also have unusual and sensational cases, but unfortunately, they are not the daily routine." Nevertheless, Patrick Kurtz cannot really imagine doing any other job.

Source: Rheinische Post

 

Author: Peter Witt

 

Kurtz Investigations Düsseldorf

Grafenberger Allee 293

D-40237 Düsseldorf

Tel.: +49 211 9874 0021

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