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Former federal agent. Professional private investigator.
Thomas G. Martin is a highly decorated former BNDD/DEA agent with the US Department of Justice and president of the country’s leading PI agency, Martin Investigative Services. He has been involved in numerous criminal cases that garnered national attention, including many unsolved crimes and cold cases.
Today Martin oversees 22 investigators, many former Federal agents from the DEA, FBI, IRS, and Secret Service.
He and his network of agents provide unparalleled private and corporate investigation services, bug sweeps, background checks, fraud investigations, missing persons, and surveillance.
Hire a Private Investigator for Bug Sweep Services and Cost
Our company sweeps for listening devices!
Do you suspect your home, office or business has hidden electronic bugs?
MartinPI Bug Sweep Team comprises former Federal Agents of the FBI, DEA, IRS, or Secret Service with years of counter-surveillance experience. We use the most current state-of-the-art equipment operated by professionally trained private investigator technicians.
Who Can Sweep My House for Listening Devices
To ensure your home is free of hidden cameras, microphones or illegal recording devices, it's essential to have a professionally trained TSCM debugging technician conduct a thorough sweep. This will help identify and remove any potential threats to your privacy and security.
Bug Sweep Detection Systems
The technology used to monitor and watch people illegally has changed dramatically since the late 1960's. Today there are hundreds (if not thousands) of options readily available to buy on the Internet. And as this technology changes, we also have to continually invest in the latest technology to assist us in finding the newer cameras and listening devices. The cost of these illegal devices has gone down while the actual products have become more sophisticated and smaller.
TSCM Bug Sweep: Residential Costs
The cost of a TSCM debugging sweep for an average-sized home in the US can range from $6,500 to $9,500, based on various factors, such as location, square footage, type of audio-visual equipment, number of vehicles, and the level of expertise of the TSCM specialist hired.
Common Scenarios
The common scenarios play out like this:
A husband wants to monitor his soon to be ex-wife's activities in the bedroom. He moves out of the residence, but before he officially leaves, he places a camera in a strategic position in the master bedroom.
An ex-employee wants to keep tabs on his former business associates. As part of his plan, he pays the cleaning crew to let him secretly get into the office and the phone room to put listening devices in the company boardroom, the President's office and that of the Chief Financial Officer.
In either case, the total expenditure is usually less than a few hundred dollars. The technicians we use on our staff to find these illegal bugs and cameras must have world-class equipment to detect all types of monitoring and listening devices. In our world, we can't just be 99% sure that nothing has been hidden. Our sweeps must be full-ranging and leave no stone unturned. It is similar to how the Secret Service operates: the President of the United States may never, ever be attacked by an assailant, hit by bullets or ever die on their watch. Failure is unacceptable.
Hire a Private Investigator for Bug Sweep Services and Cost
To assure we are 100% confident in our ability to sweep the house for listening devices, we must regularly purchase (and in some cases develop) the latest detection equipment. The cost for these devices and specialty equipment ranges from $5,000.00 to $100,000.00.
We typically use three technicians. Each has a minimum of 25 years as law enforcement officials with direct experience monitoring wiretaps, pen registers and electronic detection of devices placed by the "bad guys". The key is this: We use very sophisticated equipment in the hands of experienced technicians unsurpassed within the current investigative establishment.
Avoiding Fraudulent Bug Sweep Services
There are many wannabes and con-artists in the bug detection business. These people simply buy a magic wand from an electronics store and consider themselves bug sweep experts. They will charge you a cost of $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 to literally fake a sweep and put on a show for their unsuspecting clients. This can be totally avoided.
We are very transparent in what we do and how much we charge. If you can beat our prices, I will guarantee you are dealing with a fraud. If we could do it for less, we would.
Our Pricing Standard
Here is the gold standard bar:
We will perform a residential bug sweep or corporate office sweep on areas 3,000 sq. ft. (or less) for $4,800.00. This is for a two-day, three-phase operation in the contiguous United States. If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, you will need to pay for travel and expenses to your area.
Understanding Bug Sweep Costs: Home, Business & Vehicle TSCM Services
When hiring a professional bug-sweep (Technical Surveillance Counter Measures or TSCM) service, cost depends on what's being swept, scope, and equipment quality.
Pricing by Service Type
Residential sweeps: According to industry experts like Murray Associates TSCM, typical U.S. costs range $1,500–$6,000 for average-sized homes, based on square footage, rooms, vehicles, location, and specialist credentials.
Commercial sweeps: Corporate budgets typically range $15,000–$30,000 per quarter for head-office coverage.
Office formula: Multiply office square footage by ~$2.00 for approximate sweep costs.
Vehicle sweeps: Add cost for equipment, time, and travel required for mobile inspections.
Key Cost Drivers
Cost factors include: area size, surveillance device complexity (hidden cameras, non-transmitting bugs, trackers), inspection depth (networks, vehicles), specialist travel time, and whether credentialed technicians with lab-grade equipment are involved.
Getting an Accurate Quote
Request a written estimate specifying what's included, excluded, hours/personnel involved, and vehicle/travel coverage. This helps you budget appropriately and determine your peace-of-mind investment needs.
What Advanced Technologies Are Used in Modern Bug Sweeps?
Well, the advanced technologies used in bug sweeps are directly related to the advanced technologies of the bugging devices. In the early 1980s, the devices that were out there usually started coming in from Korea. During the 1988 Olympics, a lot of people went there for the Olympics and then brought these devices back. They were not very sophisticated. They didn't work that well. You fast forward to 2024, and there are things you can buy on Amazon and different monitoring device stores that will not only track a vehicle and say it's at 123 Main Street but can pick up conversations in a vast office. In fact, they can even go to one room and listen to it in another. So, it is a daily grind for us to keep up with the sophisticated stuff that keeps coming out.
Corporate Bug Sweep Costs
If you are a business or corporation, then the best estimate for pricing is the following:
Take the square footage of the area where the offices and phones are located. Do not be concerned with the plant or manufacturing areas. Take that figure and multiply it by $2.00. Hence, if you have 7,000 square feet of office, the cost should be around $14,000.00.
Bug Detection Statistics and Find Rates
We are often asked about how many times we find something. During the period from the late 1960's to the mid 1980's the find rate was about 4%. After the Seoul Olympics in 1988, people returned to the U.S. with newly-purchased monitoring devices. Since that year, the "find" rate has increased steadily to where we locate a monitoring device or camera about 17% of the time.
There is an 83% chance that no bug will be found, i.e., there is no bug.
Understanding the Statistics
Let me tell you something other private investigators may not point out. Some less-than-honorable investigators will prey on the paranoid and the alarming 17% percentage. But look at the math. These figures, which are shared by the top-echelon investigators, means there is an 83% chance that no bug will be found because there are none. Keep that in mind before you spend your hard earned money.
Listening Devices vs. Cameras: Trend Shift
Years ago, one statistic that we were all sure would never change was the difference between how many listening devices we found versus cameras. From the late 1960's to about 2006, the find ratio was about 90% listening devices and 10% cameras. During the past 10 years, it was about 50/50. This year, for the very first time, cameras have consistently been found more often at the rate of 55% to 45%.
The increase in camera finds is directly related to two issues. First, high-end cameras that are contained in plants, clocks, fans, and headboards are difficult to detect by the layman. Second for some reason, control-freak husbands want to monitor their wife's bedroom activities during divorce proceedings. I know that's a head-scratcher but there are some things in life you just can't make up.
Privacy Protection Through Comprehensive Bug Sweeps
In today's world, privacy is more than a luxury—it's a necessity. Confidential business discussions, personal conversations, and even casual interactions can contain sensitive information that you would not want falling into the wrong hands. For this reason, we at MartinPI.com have perfected our bug sweep services to ensure your privacy is upheld in any setting.
What Is a Bug Sweep?
But, what exactly is a bug sweep? A bug sweep, also known as a Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) sweep, involves the systematic physical and electronic examination of a location for any hidden listening devices, hidden cameras, or other forms of surveillance technology.
Our Comprehensive Services
Our bug sweep services are comprehensive, covering multiple areas. If you're wondering, "How to tell if your car is bugged?" or "Who can check my car for a tracking device?", MartinPI.com has the answer. We offer car bug sweeping services that will ensure your vehicle is clear of any hidden devices. Likewise, we can conduct room bugging sweeps, providing you with the confidence that your private conversations remain private.
We're also equipped to detect hidden police listening devices and illegal cameras. Our investigators are well-versed in laws against hidden cameras, and we can also assist if you need someone to check for hidden cameras. We utilize cutting-edge technology and proven methodologies to ensure no stone is left unturned during our bug sweeps.
Service Coverage
Operating throughout California and beyond, we serve a range of clients, from private individuals and legal professionals to corporate entities. Whether you need a private investigator in San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County, or anywhere in the Golden State, MartinPI is here to serve you.
Our Commitment to You
Remember, our goal at MartinPI.com is not only to protect your privacy but also to offer you peace of mind. You deserve to feel secure, whether you're at home, in your office, or on the move in your vehicle. Our dedicated team, state-of-the-art equipment, and commitment to excellence ensure that we deliver nothing short of the best results.
When it comes to ensuring your privacy, take no chances. Contact us today at MartinPI.com for professional bug sweep services. We are here to ensure your world is secure and your conversations remain confidential.
When it comes to protecting your privacy and security, a bug sweep is crucial. A professional TSCM (Technical Surveillance Countermeasures) technician can conduct a comprehensive sweep to detect and remove hidden cameras, microphones, and illegal recording devices from your home. The advancement of technology has made it easier for people to monitor and invade others' privacy, which is why investing in bug sweep detection systems is essential. At Martin Investigative Services, our experienced technicians use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure thorough and reliable bug sweeps. Our goal is to provide a full-ranging sweep that leaves no stone unturned. Rest assured that we prioritize your privacy and work diligently to protect you from any threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should bug sweeps be conducted in high-risk environments?
High-risk environments in our world would be corporations that are the target of espionage and law firms that are involved in high-profile and high-money dollar cases. We say every three to six months for those entities. I think that once you do a residence, we highly recommend even before we come out and do a residence that, before we do our electronic eavesdropping detection sweeps, we tell the clients to have a security system installed so that when we leave the system, make sure you set it. And the nice thing about our office is that we don't sell any equipment like that. So when we recommend it, we recommend somebody you can visit in your area. So once you've done that, I think unless something comes up, most residences are good to go for a year to two years.
Can bug sweeps detect wireless surveillance devices?
Yes. When people say wireless, there are many wireless devices out there, but they certainly have to have a power source. So people say, well, what if they turn it off? We can still detect it. Most devices, even if they're turned off, will have the technology in them that will alert our sophisticated equipment.
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Our Bug Sweep Process
Our counter surveillance process is a carefully crafted and exhaustive approach designed to guarantee the thorough detection and neutralization of any unauthorized surveillance devices.
This process is facilitated by leveraging cutting-edge equipment operated by highly trained private investigation technicians. Here's a detailed breakdown of the key components of our comprehensive bug sweep process:
1. Physical and Electronic Examination:
This initial phase involves a meticulous examination of the target area. Our seasoned investigators conduct a hands-on assessment, scrutinizing every physical aspect and potential hiding spot to ensure no device goes unnoticed. This comprehensive approach sets the foundation for a thorough bug sweep.
2. Communication Receivers and Spectrum Analyzers:
To detect signals within the spectrum from 10 kHz to 3.3 GHz, we employ advanced communication receivers and spectrum analyzers. This step ensures that no communication signal, whether analog or digital, goes undetected. The spectrum analysis is a crucial element in identifying potential threats.
3. Electronic Searches:
Our service extends beyond basic signal detection. We employ sophisticated techniques to identify a wide range of devices, including analog, digital, spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and infrared devices. This multifaceted electronic search ensures that even the most advanced surveillance technology is exposed.
4. Electrical Outlet Examination:
Carrier current devices pose a unique threat by transmitting voice or data communication through electrical outlets. Our process includes a thorough examination of electrical outlets to detect and neutralize any potential carrier current devices, thereby eliminating an avenue for unauthorized surveillance.
5. Phone Instrument Inspection:
Phones are common targets for eavesdropping devices. Our investigators conduct both physical and electronic inspections of phone instruments. This involves identifying noticeable changes and scrutinizing exterior phone tap devices, ensuring that communication devices are free from any tampering or eavesdropping mechanisms.
6. Infrared and Acoustic Transmission Checks:
Our bug sweep process goes beyond the visible spectrum by conducting checks for infrared and acoustic transmissions. These checks ensure a comprehensive sweep, leaving no room for potential hidden devices that operate in non-visible frequencies.
7. Non-linear Junction Detector (NLJD):
In situations where sophisticated devices such as cameras, transmitters, microphones, or tracking devices are suspected, we employ a Non-linear Junction Detector (NLJD). This specialized device helps detect components that may not be easily identified through traditional methods, adding an extra layer of scrutiny to our process.
Our bug sweep process is a synergy of advanced technology, expertise, and a meticulous approach aimed at providing our clients with the highest level of assurance that their spaces are free from any unauthorized surveillance.
How Can I Tell If Im Being Watched?
Technological advancements have made surveillance equipment more accessible and affordable today. Some of these devices, like security cameras, can help protect your valuables in personal and professional environments.
However, other forms of surveillance, such as hidden cameras and listening devices, can be concerning for individuals and companies if used for nefarious reasons. A person can easily install bugs in your home to monitor your movements and conversations.
Fortunately, you can look out for various aspects to establish whether someone is spying on your home. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you detect bugs in your home so you can find and eliminate these intrusive devices.
Hire A Private Investigator for A Bug Sweep (Available Nationwide)
Notice: Our Bug Sweep services to check for monitoring devices and hidden cameras are exclusively available in all 50 States.
To hire a private investigator for monitoring devices and cameras, you will need to contact our office @ (800)-577-1080, to arrange a time for our investigators to visit your residence. Please note that we do not service apartment buildings. Our team will thoroughly inspect your home for any hidden cameras or surveillance equipment.
We conduct inspections for vehicles Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at our corporate office located at 620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1400, Newport Beach, CA 92660. You must prepay the fee of $1500.00. The easiest way is through Zelle into our Wells Fargo account using the access code of our email address tmartin@martinpi.com. You can also send in a check, and we will wait until it clears.
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Bug Sweeping FAQs
How do bug sweeps differ from other investigative services?
Bug sweeps, or TSCM, involve a systematic process to detect and neutralize unauthorized surveillance devices. Unlike other investigative services, bug sweeps focus specifically on protecting your privacy from hidden listening devices, cameras, and other surveillance technology.
How often should bug sweeps be conducted?
Can I perform a bug sweep myself?
How much does a bug sweep cost?
The cost of bug sweeps varies based on factors like location, square footage, and the complexity of the sweep. At Martin Investigative Services, we offer transparent pricing, ensuring you get the best value for your investment.
In an age where privacy is a necessity, our technicians offer the assurance that your personal and business spaces remain secure from unauthorized surveillance. Contact Martin Investigative Services today for a no-obligation consultation and take the first step towards reclaiming your peace of mind.