01
Stabilize the Situation
We help you stop the bleeding and regain control before anything gets worse.
Empire Investigation LLC · Est. 1982 · Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh privateinvestigatorssince 1982.
TSCM bug sweeps, corporate fraud, and discreet domestic cases — backed by 44 years, $2M+ in equipment, and evidence that holds in court.
When the stakes are too high for the wrong answer, experience is the only thing that matters.
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- A+ BBB Rating
- 44+ Years
- 300+ Publications
The gap between Empire and the rest · documented below ↓
Talk to an investigator now — confidential, no obligation.
Time-sensitive matter? Our 24/7 line is answered live — confidential callbacks.
What Happens When You Get It Wrong
The case doesn't give you a second attempt at collecting evidence.
Whether it's internal fraud, a custody matter, or confirming what you already suspect — the investigation either produces proof that holds, or it doesn't. There is no close enough. Courts don't grade on effort.
This is why the methodology matters. It's documented further down this page — and it explains why clients who've tried other firms end up here.
From the Field
"The CFO calls at 11 PM. She transferred $2.3 million before realizing something was wrong. The wire is three days old. She has already contacted two other investigators. Both said the trail was cold."
"We have a 72-hour window. We take the case."
The trail was not cold. The other investigators didn't have what was necessary to follow it. The equipment gap alone was the difference.
Composite of multiple corporate engagements · details altered for confidentiality
Founded
1982
Years in Operation
44+
BBB Rating
A+
City's Best Award
3 Years
Equipment Value
$2M+
The Standard That Matters
Not all investigations are equal. Neither is the firm conducting them.
The investigative industry has no shortage of practitioners. It has a significant shortage of firms with the resources, experience, and documented credibility to handle high-stakes cases correctly.
When evidence is collected incorrectly, it is inadmissible. When surveillance is conducted without proper equipment, it produces footage that fails in court. When a firm lacks the depth to understand a complex corporate fraud, the investigation stalls.
Empire maintains conservatively over $2 million in specialized investigative equipment — not because it looks impressive, but because serious cases require serious tools. The camera that survived a 125-G train impact didn't cost $500. The surveillance system that WPXI trusted for a five-state police collaboration wasn't borrowed.
What separates outcomes is preparation. Forty-four years of it.
The six-step methodology behind every Empire investigation — and why it produces evidence that holds — is described in detail further down this page.
Equipment & Resources
$2M+
Conservatively over $2 million in specialized investigative equipment — a standard no other regional agency approaches.
Under $10,000
$50,000+
$2,000,000+
Average PI Agency
Avg. Wedding Photographer
Empire Investigation
Empire StandardApproximately 20× the resources of the average private detective agency in the United States.
"Results require resources. Empire has both."
Field Proof
WPXI needed to document a Pittsburgh-based exercise involving state police from five surrounding states targeting people being struck by trains at railroad crossings. Here's what it took — and why it mattered.
Field Proof
A camera that survived a train.
Most investigative agencies carry standard commercial equipment. Empire does not. When WPXI Television approached us to collaborate on a Pittsburgh-based public safety exercise — coordinated with state police from five surrounding states and focused on people being struck by trains at dangerous railroad crossings — our equipment was put to a test no brochure could have anticipated.
Empire's cameras recorded those train impacts directly. The force registered at 125 Gs — levels that would destroy virtually any consumer or prosumer-grade device on the market. Our equipment survived without interruption. The footage was broadcast as part of the WPXI investigative series documenting this five-state police collaboration.
This is not a case study in client outcomes. This is proof of capability — the kind of documentation only exists when your equipment can handle conditions no one else would attempt.
WPXI Television · Five-State Police Collaboration
125 Gs
Impact force on record
Zero interruption
Camera kept recording through impact
Five-state
State police collaboration, Pittsburgh-based exercise
Beat the Train — Investigation Footage
Independent Recognition
The editorial coverage spans four decades and three continents. The 300+ reflects how far it reached.
Saudi Gazette. USA Today. NBC. CBS. Pittsburgh's own broadcast stations. The major editorial coverage is independent.
International
Saudi Gazette
Vision Magazine
W&S Sicherheitstechnik
The Ritz-Carlton Magazine
National Broadcast & Print
USA TodayNBCCBS
Boston GlobeMiami HeraldStar Tribune
Jenny Jones ShowCard InternationalSmall Business TrendsettersUnisphere Magazine
Regional & Broadcast
WPXI Television Pittsburgh·KDKA-TV Pittsburgh·WTAE-TV Pittsburgh·WPGH FOX 53 Pittsburgh·Pittsburgh Tribune-Review·Pittsburgh Business Journal·Pennsylvania Server·Executive Report·Pittsburgh City Paper·WDVE Radio / B-94·WDVE Radio·B-94 Pittsburgh·WPXI Television Pittsburgh·KDKA-TV Pittsburgh·WTAE-TV Pittsburgh·WPGH FOX 53 Pittsburgh·Pittsburgh Tribune-Review·Pittsburgh Business Journal·Pennsylvania Server·Executive Report·Pittsburgh City Paper·WDVE Radio / B-94·WDVE Radio·B-94 Pittsburgh·
300+
Publications, broadcast networks, and trade journals across four decades — international press through local investigative media — that featured Empire Investigation by name.
Major editorial. Broad reach.
Our Process
Investigations Are
Never Simple.
The Empire Decision Framework guides every engagement — from the first call through final documentation. Forty-four years of field work distilled into six steps that protect clients, produce results, and stand up in court.
Six Phases
02
Clarify the Objective
We turn uncertainty into a clear, actionable investigative objective.
03
Expand the Options
We uncover every viable approach — so you're never locked into one path.
04
Evaluate Risk
We map the consequences — legal, relational, financial, and reputational.
05
Take Decisive Action
We move with precision and discretion under real-world conditions.
06
Measure the Outcome
We deliver clarity: what was found, what it means, and what's next.
“Forty-four years in the field taught us that structure is the only thing that holds under pressure.”
Every engagement follows this framework — from the first call through final documentation. Forty-four years of field work distilled into six steps that protect clients, produce results, and stand up in court.
Begin Your InvestigationThe Person Behind the Record
Robert Kresson
Founder & Principal · Est. 1982
The investigator
other investigators call.
Robert Kresson founded Empire Investigation LLC in November 1982 after approximately six to seven years working as a lead investigator across multiple firms. That field foundation — built before most of today's competitors existed — became the bedrock of what is now one of the longest-established investigative agencies in the region.
His TSCM background includes direct training with industry pioneers Jim Ross of Ross Engineering, Marty Kaiser, and Ted Sandin. He later became an instructor himself — teaching at Surveillance Expo for over a decade and contributing to TSCM instruction alongside Ross Engineering. Teaching implies mastery. He was invited, not self-appointed.
He has spoken at over 20 professional conferences across four continents, appeared in media coverage spanning four decades, and has been publicly credited by Emmy-winning investigative journalist Tim Holoman for field support that directly contributed to multiple Emmy Award-winning investigations.
Mr. Kresson continues to personally oversee Empire's most sensitive engagements — the standard of discretion and technical authority that has defined this firm for 44+ years is not delegated.
PA License #1982Surveillance Expo Instructor 10+ yrsTSCM CertifiedEmmy-credited collaboration300+ Publications
Emmy Award–Credited Testimonial
"The state of the art equipment you provided worked flawlessly."
Tim Holoman
Emmy Award–Winning Broadcaster · WPXI TV, Pittsburgh
Working together for over 35 years
Tim Holoman, multiple Emmy Award winner and longtime Pittsburgh broadcast veteran, worked directly with Empire's surveillance team and provided this on-camera account of the firm's technical capabilities and professionalism.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Tim Holoman · Emmy Award Winner
When You're Ready
The truth exists. Empire finds it.
Confidential consultations. Licensed, Bonded, and Insured. Available across Pennsylvania and nationally.
ConfidentialLicensed, Bonded & Insured44+ YearsA+ BBB
Confidential Inquiry
When the Matter
Demands Certainty
Every engagement begins with a private, no-obligation consultation. Your inquiry is handled with the same discretion as our investigations.
Time-sensitive matter? Our 24/7 line is answered live — confidential callbacks.
Prefer to call? (800) 860-6068 · Licensed · Bonded · Established 1982
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Empire Investigation different from other private investigators?
Empire Investigation has operated continuously since 1982 — over 44 years of field experience. The firm conservatively maintains over $2 million in specialized investigative equipment, has been recognized in over 300 publications including USA Today and international outlets, and has collaborated with television networks and law enforcement agencies across multiple states. Licensed, Bonded, and Insured in Pennsylvania.
What types of investigations does Empire Investigation handle?
Empire Investigation handles corporate fraud and internal theft investigations, TSCM (Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures) and bug sweeps, domestic and infidelity investigations, child custody documentation, asset searches, criminal defense support, workers' compensation investigations, and litigation support. The firm serves businesses, law firms, and private clients across Pennsylvania and nationally.
Is Empire Investigation licensed and insured?
Yes. Empire Investigation holds a Pennsylvania private detective license granted in November 1982 — one of the longest-standing investigative licenses in the state. The firm is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured.
How confidential is the investigation process?
All consultations and investigations are conducted with complete confidentiality. Empire Investigation does not share client information. Every engagement is treated with the discretion that high-stakes personal and corporate situations demand.
How do I start an investigation with Empire Investigation?
Contact Empire Investigation directly at 1-800-860-6068 or through the consultation form on this site. Initial consultations are confidential. Empire will assess your situation, clarify your objective, and outline the most appropriate investigative approach before any engagement begins.