Few things are as frightening for a parent as the sense that your teenager is slipping away: new friends you have never met, money that goes missing, late nights, a phone that is never put down, a sudden drop at school. Most of the time it is an ordinary, if difficult, phase of growing up. Sometimes it is not. A private investigator in Greece with long experience of family cases can help you find out which, calmly and discreetly, so you can respond with facts rather than fear.
Petros Drolias has been a licensed private investigator in Athens since the early 1990s and has handled more than 1,500 cases in 14 countries. Our approach to teen concerns is protective, never punitive: the goal is your child's safety and a way forward for the family.
What we help parents with
The six services below reflect the concerns parents bring to us most often. Many cases involve more than one, and the right starting point is usually a conversation about what you have noticed.
Drugs
Signs such as unexplained money, new contacts, changes in sleep and mood, or secrecy around certain places can point to drug use or involvement in dealing. We discreetly establish where your teenager goes, with whom, and whether there is evidence of drugs, so you can act early and, where needed, involve health professionals. We never confront your child or put them at risk.
Youth gangs
A sudden change of friends, new clothing or symbols, aggression and unexplained injuries may indicate involvement with a group engaged in violence or crime. We observe in public places, map the group and its activities, and give you an honest picture of the risk. Where a crime is involved, we help you bring the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Checks on minors' activities
Sometimes parents simply need to know whether their child is where they say they are, and whether the people around them are safe. We carry out proportionate checks under parental responsibility, focused on specific concerns and limited in time. We do not carry out open-ended surveillance, and we always choose the least intrusive method.
Locating runaway minors
If your teenager has left home, report it to the police immediately. Alongside the authorities, we follow up leads among friends, places your child frequents, transport routes and public online activity. Our aim is to find your child safely and help you plan how to bring them home without making things worse.
Bullying
Bullying at school, in sports clubs or in the neighbourhood can damage a young person deeply, and children often hide it. We document incidents, identify witnesses and prepare a factual record that helps you work with the school, the club or, in serious cases, the police. If the bullying continues online, our online investigations service covers the digital side.
Your teen's online footprint
Young people share more than they realise. We review your minor child's public online presence for risks such as exposed personal information, contact with unknown adults, signs of grooming or sextortion, and harmful communities. You receive practical recommendations on privacy settings and next steps. For age-appropriate controls on devices you provide to your child, see our device monitoring service.
How we work with families
Everything starts with a confidential conversation with you, the parent. We listen to what you have noticed, help separate genuine warning signs from normal teenage behaviour, and propose a focused, time-limited plan. You receive a written cost estimate before anything begins.
During the work, we keep you informed and tell you at once if your child appears to be in immediate danger. The final report is factual and clear, written to help you decide what to do next, whether that means a family conversation, a meeting with the school or professional support.
Before you act
When you are worried, it is natural to want to search your teenager's room, take their phone or confront them immediately. Sometimes a direct conversation is exactly right. But if you suspect something serious, such as drug dealing, a dangerous group or contact with an adult who is grooming your child, a hasty confrontation can push the problem underground or put your child at greater risk.
Before calling us, it helps to note down:
- what has changed and when you first noticed it
- names or nicknames of new friends, and places your child mentions or visits
- any unexplained money, objects, injuries or messages you have seen
- changes at school, reported by teachers or noticeable in grades and attendance
- what you have already tried, and how your child responded
Families living abroad whose children are studying, on holiday or staying with relatives in Greece face an extra difficulty: distance. In those cases we can act as your eyes on the ground, reporting to you in English and coordinating with relatives or the school as you prefer.
Our free teen risk signs checklist, among our online tools, can also help you organise what you have observed before we speak.
Proportionate and lawful
Protecting a minor does not mean ignoring their rights. We act within parental responsibility, choose proportionate methods and respect the privacy of other people, including your child's friends. Article 19 of the Greek Constitution protects the privacy of communications, Article 370A of the Penal Code criminalises illegal interception and recording, and the GDPR and Law 4624/2019 govern personal data. We therefore do not intercept your child's conversations with others or access third parties' accounts or devices.
Talk to us
If you are worried about your teenager, a free, confidential first consultation is a good place to start. Call 24/7, send a message through our contact page or book a consultation. Parents can also read more on our page for individuals.