Private Detective Los Angeles
Private investigators are known by many different names – private detective, private eye, PI. No matter what you want to call these individuals, they are all after the same problem-solving goal. You can find a lot of private detective firms in Los Angeles, offering anything from surveillance to child custody case support.
Considered “private” because they work for single clients or corporations, a private detective is a civilian who is licensed and hired to handle cases that are civil or criminal, under most circumstances. Many of the services these detectives offer their clients revolve around the areas of surveillance, interviews, documentation, background checks, and so much more.
To be a private detective in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, like Orange County, you have to have a unique skill set. Without a keen eye, attention to detail, great observation skills, and an analytical mindset, providing efficient detective work would be hard.
These talents help private detectives to be able to:
- Perform investigations for clients in an undercover capacity
- Work different types of surveillance to gain useful information
- Create reports with thorough documentation for clients
- Do any extensive research required to make progress
- Interview people who may be of interest in the client’s case
Being a great detective means being able to consistently provide great service for clients and other detectives within the agency.
Why People Hire a Los Angeles Private Investigator/Private Detective
Believe it or not, private detectives are in high demand in so many of the largest industries across the country. The role of a private investigator within a company is often so important that they are put on retainer so that if the company needs them, they just have to call.
Private detectives are more than just what you read in books and see in movies. The depictions are often fictionalized and slightly overdramatic. They are in high demand, though, which makes learning about them (the real ones) more important so that you can align yourself with the right one.
Industries that use Los Angeles private investigative professionals are:
- Technology companies seeking computer forensics
- Companies looking to hire an undercover specialist who can handle surveillance tasks
- Criminal or civil cases looking for supporting documentation and evidence
- Employers and companies who are looking for pre-employment screenings, background checks, polygraph services, and retail loss and prevention
- Companies looking for supplier and vendor screenings
- Anyone seeking help locating a missing person
- Personal requests such as surveillance on a cheating spouse, husband, wife, partner, etc.
Part of hiring a private investigator is finding the right private investigator. Not all detectives work on the same types of cases. Each agency may offer a handful of specialties that are determined by the professionals they have on staff. The United States Association of Professional Investigators recognizes various specialties, which include but are not limited to:
- Criminology and Behavioral Sciences
- Criminal investigations
- Civil investigations
- Investigative Business Administration
- Investigative Law and Ethics
- Insurance Investigations
- Computer and Internet forensics
- Security
- Terrorism and Intelligence
- Special Victims cases
In Los Angeles, you might determine in your search that some professionals only offer a specific scope of specialties. There are some licensed investigators who only lend their services to bail bondsmen and bounty hunters in the location of fugitives who have jumped bail. No matter what the specialty is that they practice, they are still obligated to work ethically and within federal, state, and local laws.
The Most Common Private Investigation 
Services in Los Angeles, California
Despite the action sequences and witty comebacks you see in the movies, the types of investigations that go on in the Hollywood blvd are a little less exciting. Even without the extra frills from special effects, these cases are still just as important to someone as the movies are. There are five common case types that private investigators get assigned to every day in California, more specifically Los Angeles.
Background Checks
Background checks are one of the more popular choices when it comes to hiring a private investigator. Although compiled using public information, the background checks performed by professionals dig deeper than the ones purchased from companies on the internet. Employers purchase background check services so that they can handle pre-employment and vendor screenings. Property managers use these services when looking at potential applicants to move into a rental property before signing a lease agreement. Other civilians may use background checks to screen potential love interests.
Surveillance
Surveillance is the most commonly thought of service provided by a private investigator. Surveillance can range from catching a cheating spouse or partner in the act to gaining proof that an insurance claim is fraudulent. Technology has made surveillance a lot easier for these super sleuths to gather evidence. Still, nothing beats the good old fashioned stakeout!
Criminal and Post-Conviction Investigations
Criminal investigations can be important to the defense in a trial. It seems like the plaintiff and the state have all of the information they need to make the case open and shut. Because defense lawyers have so much on their plates, they might hire a private detective to help collect the evidence that will exonerate their client.
In criminal cases where evidence was not readily obtainable, and a client gets a guilty verdict, the lawyers may hire a private detective after the fact to help with the appeal process. The detective’s duty is to bring forward the evidence that would have made a difference in the original trial.
Child Custody
Child custody cases are complicated. Not only emotionally but in terms of evidence. Both parents are often in front of the judge with very little to support the case of either side. It turns into one party’s word against the others. The state may bring in private investigators to gather evidence on both parties. The parties themselves might hire their own investigator to turn over evidence to benefit their case. In either situation, the role of the private detective is a delicate spot to be in.
Missing Persons
If you have learned anything from television, then you know that missing persons can be people who have disappeared at the hands of someone else or have erased themselves off the map. In either situation, the trail is still the same – someone trying to cover their tracks. A private investigator who is good at doing their job will be able to uncover evidence and might even be able to find the person that is missing. There is never any guarantee that a missing person will be uncovered, but it is likely that part of the trail can be uncovered, which is a start.
Why Kay & Associates is Your Top Pick in LA
Kay & Associates have been the go-to private investigators in the Los Angeles area since 1992, offering expert services in a wide variety of investigative specialties. When you find yourself trying to find answers in any of the following, Kay & Associates can help:
- Surveillance
- Infidelity
- Background Searches
- Small Business and Corporate
- Asset Location
- Digital Forensics
- Financial Fraud
- Child Support and Custody
- Construction
- Accident investigation
- Asset Protection
- Missing Persons
- Criminal Defense
- Post-Conviction
Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed, trying to uncover the missing piece to something in your life. Let Kay & Associates bring peace of mind and ease, providing the results you want with the timeframe you need them in. Our experts offer professionalism, honesty, and discreet private detective services to Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the surrounding areas.
Call today to get your free 15-minute case consultation and find out what Kay & Associates can do for you. We are also available via email and through our online contact form.