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Detective Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated March 4, 2025

A Detective, or Investigator, is responsible for seeking out information and researching the circumstances of a situation to solve crimes or uncover details about a civil matter. Their duties include examining evidence, questioning suspects of a crime and performing background checks.

Detective Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of a Detective typically depend on the profile and needs of your organization. When creating a job description for a Detective, you must make sure that you precisely describe the type of Detective work that your new hire will be required to do on a day-to-day basis.

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Detective Job Description Examples

Example 1

About us

HomeGoods is a large business in San Diego, CA. We are professional and agile.

Our work environment includes:
  • Food provided
  • Growth opportunities


    Opportunity: Contribute To The Growth Of Your Career.

    Completes the daily tasks required for Store Loss Prevention and safety programs. Maintains positive relationships with Store Management. Conducts apprehensions within established policies and guidelines. Communicates with store Associates on damage and shrink initiatives. Identifies and resolves internal and external theft.

  • Adheres to established shoplifter guidelines and policies
  • Provides timely, courteous and knowledgeable service to customers
  • Promotes a culture of honesty and integrity; maintains confidentiality
  • Observes, apprehends, and/or deters any acts of dishonesty from outside sources
  • Participates in investigations and surveillance as assigned
  • Ensures apprehensions are consistent with store theft activity
  • Completes and distributes paperwork in an accurate and timely manner
  • Maintains appropriate evidence, demonstrates understanding of law enforcement procedures and professionally participates in legal activities as needed (e.g., police calls, etc.)
  • Coordinates and complete shrink related activities in partnership with Store Management
  • Adheres to all labor laws, policies, and procedures
  • Supports and participates in store shrink reduction goals and programs
  • Encourages Associate use of shrink reduction resources
  • Promotes safety awareness and supports maintenance of a risk-free environment


    Who We Are Looking For: You!

  • Excellent communication skills and sound judgment
  • Basic computer skills
  • Basic time management skills
  • Investigative / analytical skills
  • Ability to respond appropriately to changes in direction or unexpected situations
  • Standout colleague, working effectively with peers and supervisors to accomplish tasks
  • Able to work a flexible schedule to support business needs
  • 0-2 years retail or security experience


    A Few More Reasons to Love TJX.

  • Competitive Compensation
  • Weekly Paychecks
  • Associate Discount
  • Career development opportunities
  • TAAP TJX Associate Assistance Programs
  • Be a part of an inclusive team
  • Flexible work schedules


    Benefit programs and eligibility terms vary across our global locations. We encourage you to apply to learn more about how our benefits can make a difference for you.

    Pay range is $16-19 per hour depending on experience.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $16.00 - $19.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discount
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift



    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • San Diego, CA 92110: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

    Application Question(s):
  • Do you have open availability?

    Shift availability:
  • Night Shift (Preferred)
  • Day Shift (Preferred)

    Willingness to travel:
  • 25% Location: In person

    • Example 2

    Asset Protection Associate

    Our Asset Protection Security team uses advanced technology and analytics tools to reduce shortages and protect our bottom line. As an Asset Protection Detective, you will have the opportunity to receive expert training and develop your skills in this role. You will create and foster relationships with store teams and law enforcement agencies. Our goal is to protect company assets while maintaining a safe, customer-centric shopping environment.

    What we can offer you:

  • An inclusive, challenging, and refreshingly fun work environment
  • Empowerment to perform impactful work with tangible results
  • Coverage across medical, dental, vision, and retirement
  • Employee Assistance Program (mental health and financial literacy resources)
  • Fully-Funded education benefits may include 100% of tuition, books, and fees
  • Merchandise discounts
  • Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs), give-back/volunteer opportunities


    What you will do:

  • Use surveillance techniques to help identify and apprehend individuals who shoplift and dishonest employees
  • Understand and leverage de-escalation tools in order to provide a safe and secure environment for our customers and colleagues
  • Recover stolen merchandise
  • Research and provide statements and evidence to support investigations
  • Prepare reports on theft incidents, investigations, and audits
  • Maintain strict compliance with the law and company policies regarding apprehensions, searches, and evidence preservation
  • Build and maintain partnerships with store colleagues, as well as outside groups, such as law enforcement
  • Testify in court for criminal and civil cases
  • Train colleagues on protocols to help protect company assets
  • Respond to alarm conditions and work on special assignments
  • Facilitate first aid for customers and colleagues


    Who you are:

  • Focused on upholding Macy s dedication to fulfilling ideals of diversity, inclusion and respect that our company aspires to achieve, every day in every store and office, with every customer and associate
  • Flexible availability, including days, evenings, weekends and holidays with regular, dependable attendance and punctuality
  • A resourceful self-starter who can adapt quickly to changing priorities
  • Ability to communicate and share information with diverse groups of customers and peers
  • Enjoy working as part of a team, as well as independently
  • Obtain and maintain required licenses, trainings, and certifications
  • High School Diploma or equivalent


    Essential Physical Requirements:

  • Walking, standing for extended periods; bursts of quick movement
  • Apprehension of subjects in accordance with company policy
  • Requires hearing, close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
  • Occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching above eye level
  • Ability to spend long periods of time in enclosed areas
  • Lifting and moving items up to 30 pounds


    About Macy's

    Now is an exciting time for a Macy's career as we continue to focus on creating exciting and memorable experiences for every Macy's customer, whether their journey starts online or in the store. Our opportunities in Sales, Merchandise, Operations, Customer Service, Warehouse, Marketing, and other areas let you express your creativity and commitment to excellence, grow your career and make a difference to your Macy's colleagues and customers.

    Bring your creativity, energy and ideas to the Macy's team Apply Today!

    This job description is not all-inclusive and may not apply to colleagues covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Macy's Inc. reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. Macy's Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $19.00 - $20.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Referral program
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
    Supplemental pay types:
  • Bonus opportunities



    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • San Mateo, CA 94403: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

    License/Certification:
  • Guard Card (Preferred)

    Willingness to travel:
  • 25% Location: In person

    • Example 3

    Store Detective:

    Job Summary:Northeast Shared Services is looking for Store Detectives to join our dynamic Asset Protection team. Locations covered in the Southern Tier of New York are: Elmira, NY, Bath, NY, Sayre, NY, Ithaca, NY, Jamestown, NY, Dunkirk, NY and Olean, NY

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    The Store Detective is responsible for the detection, apprehension, and processing of shoplifters, as well as review and processing of paperwork, policies and procedures, and investigation of internal theft issues.

    Minimum Qualifications:

  • Ability to work independently
  • Strong communication & interpersonal skills
  • New York State Security Guard license preferred; ability to obtain NYS Security Guard license required
  • Valid Driver's License

    Education and Experience:

  • High School diploma or equivalent
  • Criminal justice major preferred
  • 1-2 years experience in similar capacity preferred

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $15.64 - $23.46 per hour

    Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • Holidays
  • Monday to Friday
  • Weekends as needed



    License/Certification:
  • Driver's License Location: On the road

    • Example 4

    Vigilant Asset Protection, LLC. is a leading company in the asset protection industry. We currently offer Loss Prevention / Asset Protection services to various retailers in 7 States and are continuing to grow. We are looking to hire experienced Loss Prevention Detectives. If you're hard-working and dedicated, Vigilant Asset Protection, LLC. is an ideal place to grow your career. We are looking for highly effective Loss Prevention Agents for Tacoma, WA, and surrounding areas. These agents will focus on mitigating loss in the most effected retail locations in the market. Apply today!!

    KEY Duties AND Responsibilites

    Patrol all areas of the property, monitoring guest s behavior for indications of theft.

    Apprehend customers involved in shoplift/theft.

    Prepare detailed written incident reports to document all Security/Loss Prevention related incidents, observations and daily activity.

    Report behavior that may be detrimental to the client, including theft, customer complaints, policy and procedural violations, safety violations, poor service or unfriendly behavior.

    Report and document all incidents in an honest, objective and fair manner.

    Testify in legal proceedings to observations when required.

    Professionally interact with customers of all ages, ethnicity and background.

    Maintain confidentially of all Security/Loss Prevention and property report/documents; release information only to authorized individuals.

    Notify appropriate individuals in the event of injury, property damage or customer complaint.

    Assist customers/employees during emergency system situations.

    Monitor CCTV system where applicable.

    Additional Duties AND Responsiblities

    Comply with all Vigilant AP directives, policies and procedures.

    Perform all delegated tasks assigned by Loss Prevention Supervisor.

    Adhere to Company standards as stated in departmental training manual.

    Skills AND Qualifications

    Must be at least 18 years old

    High School diploma or equivalent; some college preferred.

    Excellent written / verbal communication skills.

    Ability to interact professional and positive manner with store management, Asset Protection team

    members and client associates and customers.

    Able to work independently with minimum supervision.

    Must be detail oriented, highly motivated, and a self-starter.

    Able to stand and/or walk for long periods of time, both inside and outdoors.

    Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, holidays and weekends.

    Able to pass a thorough background screen, including criminal background check.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $19.00 - $23.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Weekends as needed



    Experience:
  • Loss prevention: 1 year (Preferred)

    License/Certification:
  • Guard Card Location: In person

    • Example 5

    About:
    Macy's is proudly America's Department Store. There's a reason we've been around for 160 years. Customers come to us for fashion, value and celebration. Macy's is also known for giving back to our communities. Now is an exciting time to join Macy's. The face of retail is changing, and change requires innovation. Our industry-leading Asset Protection team uses the latest technology and analytics tools to reduce shortages and protect Macy's bottom line. Develop your skills with opportunities to specialize in areas such as Investigations, Organized Retail Crime, and Asset Protection Training. Join a team of colleagues who are committed to excellence and leadership development.

    Job Overview:
    The Asset Protection Detective's primary responsibility is to prevent the loss of company property while maintaining a safe business environment. Support store's efforts in providing the best customer service within a controlled environment so as to ensure maximum sales at the highest profit rate attainable. Under general supervision and established procedures, the Asset Protection Detective detects and apprehends shoplifters and dishonest employees.

    Macy's uses a scheduling plan that allows our associates to participate in the creation of their work schedules by managing availability and identifying preferences. Additionally, during key events and peak selling times, Macy's may offer additional shifts to our associates, which they may pick up using the self-scheduling tool. Details on Macy's schedule options are available during the interview process.?

    Essential Functions:
  • Recover stolen merchandise and apprehend shoplifters and other people who commit fraud or other criminal acts against the company
  • Investigate criminal violations against the person or property of any customer or associate that is committed on company premises
  • Prepare prompt and complete reports relative to all theft incidents, merchandise recoveries, accident investigations, audits, and other activities as assigned by the Asset Protection Manager
  • Have knowledge of and maintain strict compliance with the law and company policies concerning apprehensions, searches and seizures, and the preservation of evidence
  • Promote shortage awareness and theft deterrence among associates by conducting meetings and participating in training events
  • Successfully complete all Asset Protection training requirements including CPR and First Aid and maintain personal certifications as required by law
  • Conduct audits to ensure sales department compliance to merchandise exposure standards and asset protection policies
  • Testify in court concerning any case, criminal or civil, wherein the company is a party of interest to which the Asset Protection Store Detective is summoned
  • Works on special assignments, investigations, and surveillance as directed by store leadership
  • Responds to alarm conditions at assigned store

    Qualifications and Competencies:
  • High School Diploma or equivalent required
  • No experience required
  • Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to communicate and share information with diverse groups of customers and peers.
  • Resourceful and able to adapt quickly to changing priorities
  • Resourceful self-starter, works well independently as well as part of a team, and able to adapt quickly to changing priorities
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule with retail hours, including day, evening, weekends, and/or holidays

    Physical Requirements:
  • Position requires prolonged periods of standing/walking around store or department
  • May occasionally involve reaching above eye level, stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
  • Must be able to apprehend shoplifters
  • Ability to sustain long periods of time enclosed in surveillance areas.
  • Frequently lift/move up to 30lbs

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

    Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

    Schedule:
  • 10 hour shift
  • 8 hour shift

    Education:
  • High school or equivalent (Preferred)

    Experience:
  • Asset Protection: 1 year Location: One location
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    Typical duties and responsibilities for a Detective are:

    • Working either independently or with the local authorities to investigate missing persons cases. A Detective is usually hired by the missing person’s family after a period of time has passed and the case is no longer a priority for the local police.
    • Investigating personal conflicts, such as spousal infidelity or child custody disputes. The Detective is hired by one of the parties involved to discover facts that will be admissible in court and work in that party’s favor.
    • Uncovering fraud or embezzlement origins. Detectives are also hired when a company’s management has solid reasons to believe that the company is being defrauded but they need to discover the exact origins of the matter.
    • Background checks of potential employees. Some organizations use Detectives to investigate potential employees, to make sure they haven’t displayed improper behavior in the past.

    What Does a Detective Do?

    Detectives can work privately or at a law enforcement agency to resolve unclear situations, particularly solving crimes and apprehending suspects. They can investigate records, participate in undercover operations, interview witnesses and review forensic evidence to learn about the victim of a crim and possible perpetrators. Detectives can also work to find missing persons and uncover fraud. They collaborate with other law enforcement officers to consider possible scenarios and rule out persons of interest through cross-examining suspects or reverse-engineering the events preceding a crime. Detectives respond to crime scenes, perform surveillance, issue warrants and testify in court.

    Detective Skills and Qualifications

    Detectives require a specific set of hard and soft skills to successfully perform their duties. There is no standard requirement for a private Detective, but job descriptions typically list previous experience in law enforcement or social sciences as a requirement. The most important skills for a Detective are:

    • Communication skills. Most Detective work requires constant interaction with other people. Knowing when people are being truthful and successfully extracting information are crucial detective skills
    • Critical thinking skills. Analyzing the available pieces of information and coming up with relevant conclusions are a major part of working as a Detective
    • Organizational skills. A Detective typically has to work on many cases at the same time. A good Detective must be well-organized and thorough enough to maintain the same standard of quality for all clients.
    • Ethics. Detectives often work with sensitive or confidential information. They need to have enough integrity, honesty and morality to handle that information properly.

    Detective Salary Expectations

    A Detective working in the United States can expect to earn $50,878 per year on average. Salaries depend on multiple factors, such as the person’s level of skill and experience, the hiring organization, the nature of the cases the Detective is involved in and the geographical location the Detective works on.

    Detective Salary Expectations

    2025-10-0116000.0085696.96210000.00YEARLY
    • Common salary: 85696.96 YEARLY
    • Typical salaries range from 16000.00 - 210000.00 YEARLY
    • Find more information on Indeed Salaries

    *Indeed data – 2025-10-01

    Detective Education and Training Requirements

    Education and training requirements vary from employer to employer. To increase your odds of finding qualified applicants, your Detective job description should mention that all applicants must have at least a high school diploma, as well as a bachelor’s degree, relevant work experience or both. Some states also require Detectives to have a license.

    Experience Requirements

    Previous work experience is an essential part of becoming a Detective. The most common backgrounds for a Detective are law enforcement and military service. Your Detective job description should mention that previous relevant experience is required. Previously work with such institutions will serve as proof that the applicant has the skills and knowledge of laws and regulations to successfully perform the required duties.

    Optimize Your Interviews
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    Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

    Hire your next Detective today.

    Build a job description

    Frequently asked questions about Detectives

    Job Description Examples

    Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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