#BookGiveaway for Guns Gams and Gumshoes 9-Year Blogiversary

Thank you, readers, for visiting us over the last 9 years! (Actually, the anniversary was June 9, but we have a new pup who keeps us on our toes, so we’re lucky if we remember which day is trash pickup day LOL!)

Traveller, Future Canine Investigator

Since we kicked off Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes in 2009, a lot has happened, from Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes being tapped twice by the American Library Association’s Booklist site as its “Web Crush of the Week” during Mystery Month, to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine naming the site as one of the top three true crime blogs, to our writing a handful of nonfiction books about private investigations and the law.

We’ve also accrued some interest for being a husband-wife PI team: we were the cover story for Westword magazine (The Plot Thickens: In the Case of These Husband-and-Wife Private Eyes, Truth is More Fun than Fiction), and NPR broadcast an interview with us.

Blogiversary Book Giveaway

*** Contest is now closed.*** Congrats to the winners! Thank you, everyone, who entered the giveaway.

To celebrate our 9-year blogiversary, we’re giving away 9 copies of How Do Private Eyes Do That?, a nonfiction book written by Colleen Collins.

Contest Is Closed – Congrats to the Winners!

“A must-have for any writer serious about crafting authentic private eyes. Collins knows her stuff.” ~Lori Wilde, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

• Amazon Requirements for participation:
  • 18+ years of age (or legal age)
  • Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia

It’s an Amazon ebook, but you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Amazon provides a free, easy-to-download app that makes the book readable on a variety of platforms, from your browser to your computer (PC or MAC), even your smartphone.

Giveaway ends the earlier of Aug 10, 2018 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. No purchase necessary.

Have a great weekend, Writing PIs

Case Story: The Spied-Upon Spy

A Homeland Security federal agent (whom we’ll call “B”) was on her first day of vacation in Cripple Creek, Colorado, a historic town where gambling is legal. B had played slot machines throughout the day, followed by dinner with her spouse, after which she played more slot machines.

The Arrest

Around 9:30 p.m., a state of Colorado gaming officer approached her while she was playing, and asked her to please step away from the machine. The gaming officer informed B that a casino security camera had taken footage of her cheating at a slot machine within the past hour.

When B asked for specifics, the gaming officer said that a security camera had captured video of B observing a player walk away from a machine without pressing the “Cash Out” button. B immediately sat down at that machine and started playing that slot machine, therefore stealing the previous person’s money.

B was surprised, said she had no idea there had been money left in the machine when she sat down to play, and hadn’t the camera also captured B putting in her own coupon to play?

Gaming officer claimed client had stolen another customer’s gambling coupon (image in public domain)

The gaming officer remained adamant that B was under arrest for thieving a game device, a class 6 felony in Colorado. Being a federal agent, B knew it was wise for her to remain silent, and peacefully allowed the officer to arrest, cuff, and take B to jail.

Lawyer Enters Case

Within hours after being arrested, B posted bond, and returned with her spouse to their home state. A month later, after reviewing the Colorado division of gaming reports about her arrest, B decided to hire a Colorado defense lawyer.

Note: If B, a Homeland Security federal agent, were to be found guilty, she would automatically lose her security clearance and job, in which she’d accrued 18 years. By the way, the government doesn’t differentiate between a misdemeanor or felony—if an employee is found guilty of either one, they lose their job. This case was about B losing a long-standing career and potential benefits.

Defense Investigation

As the defense investigators, we conducted surveillance in the casino regarding security practices for machines, and learned that casino security was lax in regard to reminding players—either by signs or verbally—to remember to take their money coupons before leaving slot machines.

D.A.’s Case: Intention

The defense lawyer traveled three times from Denver to Cripple Creek (229 miles each round trip) to meet with the D.A. Third time was the charm as the D.A. finally agreed to dismiss the charges based on the prosecution’s inability to prove B’s intent to steal.

Moral to This Story?

Well, if anything, it pays to exercise some caution while gambling. When you sit down at a slot machine, check if there’s a coupon still in the slot – if so, take it out and place where it can be seen by someone who may have forgotten to take it (such as on top of the slot machine). Better to exercise some caution than, like this woman, end up paying $$ to a defense lawyer.

All rights reserved by Colleen Collins. Any use of the content requires specific, written authority. Please do not copy or distribute any images unless they are noted as being in the public domain. All other images are either copyrighted or licensed by author, who does not have legal authority to share with others.