Fundamentally, two private investigators working in different locations, within the same state, will be doing the same work; however, there are certain advantages that an investigator has when working on his own turf.
The following are a few reasons that you want a private investigation firm to be based in your city, whether that’s in Orange County and San Diego, or have a local office in your city rather than at a distant location.
Knowledge of Local Streets
When an investigator has experience with the local terrain, the use of maps is seldom needed. They should know the best places to set up surveillance in order to get the best video and photos of suspicious persons, and should also know which streets are public and which are private. This is extremely important to make sure the surveillance is done legally.
Knowledge of Local Businesses
This can be important for a variety of reasons. For example, if a man or woman is having an affair, the investigator may be able to determine where the affair is taking place. Is it happening after hours, at a local hotel, or is the couple meeting to have lunch together? Also by knowing local businesses, the investigator will know if the suspect owns a business, which would be a great cover for an affair.
Knowledge of Local Ordinances
When a private investigator does field work, he or she needs to know what the local laws are. Without this knowledge, the investigation can be seriously compromised. For example, one of the most important aspects of professional work is the ability to place an individual under surveillance without them knowing about it.
However, if an investigator’s car is parked illegally and this attracts the attention of the police, a simple ticket can draw the attention of the person under surveillance. The investigator may also be questioned as to why they are sitting in a car with a camera and binoculars. The policeman may ask him to exit his car along with his equipment. At this point the investigation would be seriously compromised.
Work Needed at a Local Courthouse
Not every search can be done online, some information must be obtained at the local courthouse. Having experience with the process of obtaining information from a local court can expedite the investigative process. Also, if an investigator has been hired to serve court papers, the procedure for doing so in your local jurisdiction will be well known to a local investigator. This increases the chances of successful process serving.
Clearly the big differences between investigation work in different counties or cities involves field work. Although there are many jobs that can be done with a computer, a private investigator often needs to get out of the office and work in the field. When this happens, it is critical to employ a private investigator that has a presence in the same city or county that you live in. Contact us today and let us know what your problem is and we can explain specifically how our local services can help you.
Bruce Robertson
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