When we think of private investigators, we might think of old movies about crime rings or suspicious wives. The reality is that private investigators aren’t a relic of the past or a product of the big screen. There are over 36,000 private investigators actively working in America today.
What, exactly, does a private investigator do? How do you know when you would need to hire one?
The truth is that sometimes, their work isn’t too far off from those old movies. Other times, it’s a little less exciting and a little more mundane. Either way, you may be surprised at how often a private investigator can come in handy.
Read on to learn five reasons that you might need to hire a private investigator and find out if a P.I. can help you put your questions to rest.
1. Surveillance of an Individual
Are you feeling a bit suspicious of an individual’s behavior? Do you need to know what, exactly, they’re doing behind closed doors? These private investigators can help.
The need for surveillance can crop up for a number of reasons, but there are two in particular that stand out. The first is when one spouse believes the other may be having an affair. The other is when an employer suspects that one of their employees may be embezzling or committing fraud.
When you suspect someone of doing something suspicious or unsavory, you can’t expect that you’ll get a truthful answer if you come right out and ask. A private investigator is able to discretely monitor the behavior of an individual, dig into their digital footprint, and uncover the truth about what they’re doing.
2. Thorough Background Checks
Background checks are becoming increasingly common and private investigators can offer the most thorough assessment of a person you can ask for.
Who tends to need a background check? Employers often require background checks of potential employees, whether they’re going to be performing high-security government work or working with vulnerable populations like children or the elderly. Landlords often require background checks of potential tenants to ensure that they don’t have a history of rent discrepancies or property destruction.
Read more: best wireless headphones under 2000
Some people even choose to conduct a background check of an individual they know personally. Maybe you have a new romantic interest and want to make sure that you’re making a good choice. Perhaps you’re not so sure about the person you’ve hired to tutor your kids or take care of your property.
Plenty of online services promise to deliver a decent background check, but nothing beats a background check conducted by a private investigator.
3. Finding Missing Persons
Whether you’re looking for a loved one or trying to track down a witness in a court case, private investigators can help.
Searching for missing persons is no easy task. Typically, people don’t go missing by accident. Instead, they may be trying to obscure their own whereabouts–or someone else may be trying to obscure their whereabouts.
Local law enforcement agencies don’t always have the jurisdiction or resources to search far and wide for a missing person. If you feel as though the case has gone cold, it may be time to bring in new experts. Even if someone has changed their name, picked up a new social security card, or jumped state lines, a private investigator can track them down.
4. Providing Evidence for Child Custody Cases
Child custody cases are some of the most difficult to handle. The problem is that most of the time, the judge has to rely on the testimony of two people who may have an incentive to lie. Child custody cases often turn into the classic he said-she said situation.
Matters are made more complicated when some of the only witnesses are children. While children are often asked to testify in child custody cases, it’s not always easy to determine whether or not they’re telling the truth. Children may be coerced by one parent to testify against the other and they may not understand the significance of testifying under oath.
Hiring a private investigator in a child custody case can help you prove the facts of your family’s situation. Private investigators can collect evidence and testify on your behalf to bring much-needed clarity to your case.
5. Assisting With Criminal Investigations
Unfortunately, we often see examples that reveal that the law is not always just. At times, it can feel like the odds in a courtroom are stacked in favor of the state and that the accused have no way to prove themselves innocent.
Hiring a private investigator can shed light on the facts of a criminal investigation. A private investigator can conduct interviews, gather evidence, and do any of the work that law enforcement or attorneys fail to do. When you can’t rely on the law to reveal the truth, you can always rely on a private investigator.
Hire a Private Investigator and Get the Answers to Your Questions
Private investigators aren’t just the heroes in old Hollywood films. There are thousands of hardworking private investigators out there today who are revealing truths and putting pressing questions to rest. Now that you understand what a private investigator can do, you’ll know the next time you could benefit from hiring one.
Life raises a lot of questions and no matter how long we live, it seems like there are always more answers worth seeking. We make it our job to answer the questions that you may have as a senior citizen. Take a look at more of our content and tap into a lifeline for success.