The Mystery of Grandmother’s Locked Box

Recently, journalist Karoline Scheer, recipient of the 2014 German Radio Award for Best Reportage, devoted a feature on the topic of “secrets” for Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) and interviewed Patrick Kurtz, owner of our Dortmund detective agency.

 

In 2007, Scheer had inherited a locked metal box from her late grandmother – without the accompanying key. Since then, she has wondered what the box might contain. This thought experiment led her to consider whether she should open it or leave it closed – reveal the secret or preserve it? To help with her decision, she interviewed various experts: a hacker, a blogger, a professor from the University of Tübingen, and a private detective – Patrick Kurtz.

 

The full feature, initially broadcast on MDR Kultur and subsequently on other ARD cultural channels, can be listened to here (Patrick Kurtz appears at 20:50). Permanent access to the audio is not guaranteed, as this is at the discretion of MDR. Below is a transcript of the published conversation between Karoline Scheer and Patrick Kurtz:

Sherlock 2016 – Pipe, Chesterfield, and Borussia Dortmund

Karoline Scheer: “Film and television have trained us whom to call in tricky cases. Because he still exists, the private detective. And he smokes a pipe and welcomes me in a brown leather armchair – very Sherlock.”

 

Patrick Kurtz: “He [the detective profession] is not extinct. I believe there will always be a detective because information is valuable. Information will always be needed, and accordingly, the detective profession will exist for the foreseeable future.”

 

Karoline Scheer: “Patrick Kurtz fulfils some clichés, yet he does not look like a detective. He is 31, wears a cardigan instead of tweed, and his slippers show his heart beats for Borussia Dortmund. So far, so good.”

Privacy Matters | Shocking Discoveries in Investigations

Patrick Kurtz: “I think everyone has a right to secrets. It’s also important that people can protect their privacy. This plays a role for us because we constantly weigh whether there is a legitimate interest to conduct an investigation. But if secrets harm others, they must come to light.”

 

“We do encounter surprises where people have strong reactions. For example, a woman once discovered her husband’s behaviour was unusual, and it turned out he was apparently bisexual or even homosexual. He met regularly in certain places with other men and engaged in sexual activity in the forest or public restrooms. That was a major shock for her because they had children and he was the head of a large family.”

Data Espionage by Intelligence Services

Karoline Scheer: “Detectives need secrets, because without them, their profession would not exist. Yet they systematically break secrets to reveal the truth.”

 

Patrick Kurtz: “Actually, you cannot shield yourself from intelligence agencies. Even before the BND or NSA scandals, experts knew data leaks were inevitable. But to protect oneself from people like us, detectives, you can do quite a lot. You cannot fully hide vehicle registration data or your registered address. But for truly personal, private matters, you should be able to keep them secret if you value them.”

 

Karoline Scheer: “According to Kurtz, every German hires a detective on average 1.4 times in life. For me, it was the first time – and sobering.”

What is in the Box?

Patrick Kurtz: “If all I know is that it’s a box belonging to your grandmother, and nothing else is known, I have no basis to take any investigative action. We can’t do anything.”

 

Karoline Scheer: “How could you open it technically? You said it wouldn’t be difficult?”

 

Patrick Kurtz: “Lockpicking is the method to open most locks.”

 

Karoline Scheer: “How long would it take you?”

 

Patrick Kurtz: “For me, being unpractised, about 5–15 minutes. Someone experienced could do it in seconds. But for this lock, a pair of pliers might be the best solution.”

Further Listening

Whether Karoline Scheer ultimately opened her grandmother’s box can be heard in the original broadcast, linked above. Our Dortmund detective agency thanks Ms. Scheer and MDR for this entertaining feature.

Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund

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44139 Dortmund

Tel.: +49 231 8401 0065

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-dortmund.de

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