How to Choose the Right Private Investigator for Surveillance?
Choosing the right private investigator is crucial, period. While it may be tempting to just go with the PI offering the lowest quote, it may cost you a lot more at the end of the day if they turn out to be a wrong choice.
With that being said, let’s take a look at what seem to be some of the most important factors to consider while choosing a private investigator for video surveillance.
Ask for Their License
Although it may sound pretty obvious, you would be surprised how many people looking to hire a private investigator fail to ask for the PI’s license. And while licensing requirements may vary from one state to another, they are compulsory for all PIs.
However, the PI not only needs to be licensed, they actually need to be licensed in the state you’re looking to hire them. So for instance, if you’re looking for a private investigator Melbourne, you would want to make sure that they are licensed and authorized to carry out investigation operations in the state.
You may also want to check with the relevant authorities about the authenticity of their license, as well as make sure they have a good, clean record.
Asking for the Date and Time Stamp
When it comes to video surveillance, the date and time stamp on the surveillance videos is crucial. Without the date and time stamp, the video proof may not be given much consideration as evidence in the court, if any at all.
Apparently, not every private investigator Melbourne has the said stamp on their surveillance videos, which probably don’t make them a great fit for what you may be looking for. So do your due diligence right in order to find a PI that fits the bill perfectly for your needs.
Ask for a Strategy
Every video surveillance job is different and may hence demand a different approach based on the exact requirements. So, you may want to present all the important details and facts of the case to the PI, and ask them to come up with a strategy and share it with you.
Their strategy should be based on solid logic and backed by good rationale. This will help determine whether the PI is knowledgeable, experienced and qualified enough to be successful with their approach.
Ask for the Prices
Well, you probably already know this one. In fact, it’s probably the most important factor to you, although it actually isn’t and it shouldn’t even be.
Remember the old saying – you get what you pay for.
Sure, you may get lucky and find a great PI who offers a very affordable quote, but usually you should be prepared to pay at least a decent, reasonable price for their services.
After all, the last thing you would want is being caught out by the subject(s) you’re looking to get the information about. If the detective isn’t careful enough, they may end up giving themselves away, which may lead to more trouble than what you’re originally dealing with.
It’s a game of common sense and experience. And although a PI with limited experience but a smart approach may help get the job done, you would probably be taking a huge risk with them if it’s a very complicated case.
As a matter of fact, it seems that the two investigator formula works well in many complicated cases. They help have multiple attempts, while also tremendously lowering the chances of getting the investigation blown up.