Investigating "Normal" Crimes vs Investigating a UFO Sighting: Different Worlds, Shared Techniques
Introduction
At first glance, investigating a "normal" crime and we'll use shoplifting as the example and investigating a UFO sighting seem like two completely different jobs.
One is a routine crime that happens in retail stores every day. The other dives into the realm of the unexplained...lights in the sky, strange objects, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).
But if you look closer, you’ll see that many of the core investigative techniques are the same. The mindset of a good investigator doesn’t change whether you’re chasing a shoplifter or trying to document a possible encounter with something not of this Earth.
The Similarities
1️⃣ You Start With Eyewitnesses
Shoplifting:
You interview store employees or customers...what did they see? What time? What direction did the suspect go?
UFO/UAP:
You interview the person who saw the object...what did they see? What time? What direction was it moving?
Common skill: In both cases, you need to interview effectively...getting details without leading the witness, without introducing false memories. A good investigator knows how to listen first.
2️⃣ You Collect Physical Evidence
Shoplifting:
Surveillance video. Still photos. Time-stamped register logs. Security tags left behind.
UFO/UAP:
Video footage. Photos. Radar data (if available). Environmental readings. Sometimes even trace physical effects (scorched ground, EMF readings).
Common skill: You need to know how to collect and preserve evidence and how to determine what’s real vs. what’s noise.
3️⃣ You Assess Credibility
Shoplifting:
Is the witness credible? Are there blind spots on the cameras? Could the report be false or mistaken identity?
UFO/UAP:
Is the witness credible? Could this be a plane, drone, or satellite? Could atmospheric conditions explain it?
Common skill:
You must think critically and evaluate alternative explanations and not jump to conclusions.
4️⃣ You Build a Timeline
Shoplifting:
What time did the suspect enter? Where did they go? What time did they leave? What was their path?
UFO/UAP:
What time was the object seen? Where was it first observed? What direction did it travel? How long was it visible?
Common skill:
Building a timeline is crucial to understanding the event and identifying patterns or missing pieces.
5️⃣ You Deal With Uncertainty
Shoplifting:
Not every case is solved. Sometimes there’s not enough evidence to charge.
UFO/UAP:
Many sightings remain unexplained not necessarily "alien," just unidentified. You often end up with an open case.
Common skill:
A good investigator knows when to say:👉 “This is inconclusive ...for now. ”👉 “ Here’s what we know, here’s what we can’t yet explain.”
You don’t force an answer just to “close the file.”
The Differences
1️⃣ Legal framework
Shoplifting is a defined criminal act...with laws, penalties, and court procedures.
Investigating a UFO/UAP is often outside the legal system...it's more about documentation, science, or personal understanding.
2️⃣ Volume of cases
Shoplifting is high-volume every big store deals with it daily.UFO cases are rarer but can be high-impact (especially if documented well).
3️⃣ Level of skepticism
Shoplifting cases are assumed to be real crimes the debate is over who did it and how.
UFO cases often begin with doubt about whether anything unusual happened you have to fight public skepticism, even when the witness is credible.
Conclusion: An Investigator Is an Investigator
At their core, both shoplifting investigations and UFO/UAP investigations are about:
✅ Asking the right questions
✅ Documenting evidence
✅ Building timelines
✅ Testing alternate explanations
✅ Reporting findings honestly and clearly
The mindset is the same: follow the facts, stay objective, and don’t jump to conclusions.
At Zona Investigations and The 918 Files, we bring that same mindset to everything we investigate from the everyday to the unexplained. Because whether you’re chasing a petty thief or tracking lights in the Arizona sky...truth matters.
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