This article tells you how to be a detective/spy. It was helped by most of the wikihow writers that wrote about nancy drew, books I readspy/detective articles,a nancy drew book or two,a nancy drew website, and a lot of my own thoughts.

Show Ads

[edit] Steps

Make a spy kit. You will find the items in the things you need section
Next, get some friends you can trust, and can keep secrets.
Then, pick a target. If they are just some random person, take note of what they are doing. If that person is involved in a real crime, or even a small one, then take note of anything suspicious.
When you are spying on somebody with binoculars, and they seem to be in a distant conversation, then learn how to read lips. If possible go closer to the person, and see if you can catch some noises, or some words
Make profiles of your targets (or when you are solving a real crime, suspects), and keep adding to it when you get more info. Make sure you save them because they can be very useful.
When following someone at night, try to wear comfortable clothes that don't make a lot of noise, and try not to breathe heavily. You should stay a reasonable distance from the person you are following.
Try to practice spying in your free time. Spy on people like your family members, or a next door neighbor.
Just before a mission, or a practice mission, make sure everything is working.( your pen is writing, your flashlight dosen't have dead batteries etc)
For inspration, read detective novels like harriet the spy, nancy drew, hardy boys, sherelock holmes, trixie belden, etc.
Try to watch detective shows or movies such as scooby doo, and nancy drew
When tailing(following a person, and they look back at you, pretend to be occupied with something.(tying your shoe, fixing your hair, glancing into a shop window etc., or if they know you you can say nice meeting you here, what a surprise) It would be safer if you tailed someone you know, like your friend, or an older sibling, before you move on to total strangers
If you actually stumble upon a real case, and you have a few leads, write everything down in a specific order, then sit down and think, or if it is nighttime, then go to bed, and sleep, and wake up in the morning, and think, and maybe look on the internet for more clues.
When you think some is commiting a crime at the very moment you are there, blow a police whistle, or an ordnairy whistle, or you can disguise your voice, to scare them off.
If you decide to investagate a crime scene, make sure you have on gloves, and a swim cap over your head, so none of YOUR DNA is found.
Bring tweezers, ziploc bags, test tubes, and a tote bag to put your clues in. put everything back in your tote bag when you leave.
If you get caught, don't act nervous. Make up an excuse, and have backup.
Have a master plan, and at least two backups.
You need to have a secret base for your hideout.You will have to put all your disguises, notes, and a computer( or a laptop) if you can get one.make a secret password that only the club knows. You might need snacks depending on how long you stay there.Have a secret code, and a codename for each of you.
You need some disguises to get some info that you can't get by bieng yourself. Try to have a wide range of disguises. Make sure you have wigs, makeup, old clothes, some weird clothes, and other accsesories.
When you are going to disguise as a real person, then spy on him/her for a few days, and see how they walk, talk, and if they have any special disiablities, or limps,big ears, etc.
Whan disguising, or following, or trying to get lost in a crowd try to wear reversable hats, and jackets. Try to wear pants that unzip into shorts, and items like that.
If you can, wear shorts and a t-shirt under your disguise for easy change, or carry your shorts and t-shirt in a bag.
Wear glasses, or sunglasses( if they go with your disguises) so people won't know who you are.
Peactice different voices to go with your disguises

About your spy kit:

You will find out more in the things you need section.
Have some maps of the area you will be spying in, and any notes of shortcuts.
Learn how to use a fingerprint kit
When you leave your base/house bring food along with you if you plan to be out long
Carry your spy/detective kit with you at all times, even if you are going to some ordinary place like the mall, or the super market.
You can use talcum poweder, black eyeshadow, or crushed pencil lead for finger print powder.
Use lipstick, or something like it to write SOS on a window of the room you are trapped in(remember to write SOS backwards, or it will look backwards to the people who see it!), or you can write help backwards.

[edit] Tips

Have a keen eye, and be observant
Don't stand out when you are on your missions
learn how to quickly sketch
learn either judo, karate, tae-kwon-do, martial arts, etc.
Learn spy lingo(terms)
when spying in an area, split up
Act natural
learn to read body language/facial expressions
practice interviewing suspects
make sure people aren't spying on YOU
everything is evidence:LOOK
learn how to walk silently
Learn different languages: this can help you understand different conversations(start with spanish, then go to french, learn whatever you want
Try to learn stuff about your suspects like their email, phone#, etc.
You WILL look suspicious dressed in a trench coat, sunglasses, a fedora, and any other obvious spy/detective items.
When you leave your secret base put 2 locks on everything( 1 padlock, and 1 key lock)and hide the key very well.
also, write all the messages that you leave in your base in code
make sure all of the windows and doors are locked in your base, and have curtans drawn when you have your meetings
When you don't want anyone to listen in on one or two paticular conversations, then write your messages down on paper, and pass them to each other, and erase the massage when you want to write a new one, and when you are all done, then erase the paper completely.This not only keeps your conversation secret, but saves paper as well!!!
Leave a fake password taped on your door to decive other people
When trapped in a locked room, tap SOS with your heels(...---...) thats dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot.
Sometimes a clue will be right in front of you, so consider the obvious!
don't act like a real detective/ spy in front of people its kind of.... OBVIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!And you can get more info this way. If you need a police officer, don't be afaraid to ask unless you have bad experiecne with them
study all different kinds of codes. This can also be used to crack them as well as use them.
tie burlap over your shoes to cover up your footprint
be aware, and beware
try to have a good memory( a photographic memory will be even better!)
practice using your gadgets
Lemon juice makes a good invisible ink. to use, dip cotton swabs in it and write(writing it in between the lines of an ordanairy message will look less suspicious than a blank paper.Wait for it to dry. Hold it up to light to read it.
Never sleuth on an empty stomach
Try to do a lot of excersise