What do you do?

As the name suggests, the Thing Detectives find things. Maybe a specific rare item that you've never been able to track down? maybe something your have a sentimental attachement to? We provide a highly personal service that we're extremely proud of.

How does it work?

If you would like us to find something, then just complete our short request form. We will most likely get in contact with you to discuss the case a little more and ask for further details.

We offer our services for free. All we ask is that you make a donation if you are happy with our results. We accept donations of all sizes.

The list of 'things' we can be asked to find is endless... we are really at the whim of our clients. To date, we've been asked to locate everything from skywriters to foot operated dog grooming tables and even people, with spectacular, book-worthy results!

Why should I use the Thing Detectives?

Some clients come to us when they don't know where else to look, some come to us straight away to save themselves time, money and effort. Over the years we have built up an international network of agents and sources to help us with our many cases, and we have a large community of satisfied clients.

And of course, because our service is purely donation based, there is no risk to you.

Who are the Thing Detectives?

The Thing Detectives was founded by John Ankers in 2002, under the name e-seek. We are very proud of the Thing Detectives and the people it's been able to help. Their stories have been so varied (not to mention enjoyable, slightly eccentric and touching at times) that John and fellow Thing Detective Chris Howard are working on a book about their adventures.

Do I need to make a donation?

In a word no. But our service relies on your generosity, so please give what you feel our service is worth. We couldn't do it without you!

How long will it take you to find what I want?

As you can imagine, the time for each case varies greatly. We have found many items within a few days, while others can take months. We will do our best to keep you updated with our search. It is likely we will need to ask for some extra details along the way, so do keep an eye out for our emails.

Are my credit card details secure?

Absolutely. All donations are processed through PayPal, a highly trusted online payment service, used by ebay and many other major sites.