Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a “Private Investigator” the same as a “Private Detective”?

2. “Is all work done on my behalf by Baker Street Investigations strictly confidential?”

3. “Does Baker Street Investigations use outside private investigators or services?”

21. “What is acceptance of service of process?”

 

1. Is a “Private Investigator” the same as a “Private Detective”?

Yes… Only that as Private Investigators, we do more than someone who is solely a Private Detective. As a Private Detective, we would do surveillance (stake-outs), follow people, look into someone’s background or activities, and solve crimes. We do all of these! As Private Investigators, however, we do more than merely perform private police work-type functions. We are registered with a national information database that enables us to do extensive background and current “real time” research. We locate missing persons. We consult on personal safety and security issues. We investigate and consult on the full spectrum of legal, criminal and civil problems and activities. Everything from white collar crime to domestic violence … to cheating spouses … to criminal defense investigations.

2. “Is all work done on my behalf by Baker Street Investigations strictly confidential?”

Yes, unless you want us to testify in court. Baker Street Investigations offers discreet and completely confidential private investigations. All of our licensed P.I.s have years of experience and have been selected for their high ethical standards and professionalism. The only time any information about you or the subject of your private investigative work would become public is if, for some reason (say in a divorce, or a criminal investigation) you wanted us to testify in court. Court proceedings are always open to the public.

3. “Does Baker Street Investigations use outside private investigators or services?”

Generally, all of the private investigations we do is within our own, highly-experienced Team. We are used to working together, understand our own techniques, equipment, and the technology used at Baker Street Investigations to gather information. However, we do avail ourselves of national and world wide databases, as well as obtain information from agencies such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Depending on our clients’ need, we also utilize the services of experts in forensic accounting, administration of lie detector tests, evaluation of documents, areas involving forensic science.

4. “Why should I pay a private investigator when I may be able to do my own detective work?

As the old adage goes, if it works, don’t fix it. If you suspect that your spouse is cheating and all you want to do is catch him/her in the act, you may well be able to achieve that on your own. However, our Private Investigation Team is licensed to appear in court and testify as “expert witnesses” similar to other licensed professionals such as physicians. Also, utilizing the services of Baker Street Investigations avails you of multiple Investigators and a variety of different vehicles. One person only and/or one surveillance vehicle only hanging around a “Subject” is pretty certain to be a dead giveaway. Once your “Subject” is aware of your pursuit, he or she will be much more wary in the future, possibly preventing you from ever getting the information you need.

5. “Do you ever work with the police or other civil authorities?”

Yes, when necessary, and after consulting with you, the client. We provide the link between our clients and law enforcement. Inasmuch as there are times when it is a good decision to involve the police (in a variety of cases, some of which are child abuse, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, white collar crime in the world of business, missing persons, abduction). Our Private Investigators have years of law enforcement background, having been in the police themselves, or years of experience in conducting surveillance, preparation of reports, evidence and briefs of evidence for determination in Courts. Our Investigators are also very experienced in presenting evidence and offering testimony in Court. We will work with specific local police, sheriff’s detectives, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida State Attorneys, FBI, Interpol, or any other government agency that you agree will assist you in bringing your case to a successful conclusion.

6. “In looking for a private investigator, I keep seeing the word “surveillance” and I would like to know what this means? Is “surveillance” the same as a “stakeout”?

Great question! As we have seen in the movies, a “stakeout” can involve our Investigators positioning themselves outside a Subject’s home, workplace, or other location. It is often long, grueling work, sitting quietly for hours and hours in a vehicle, hiding in some bushes, etc., watching for the Subject. We say it is difficult because, even though the “stakeout” may last hours, sometimes even days, the Private Investigator may not let her or his eyes wander. It can take only a few seconds for the Subject to make a move and disappear!) “Surveillance” certainly can involve a stakeout, and often does. But, at Baker Street Investigations, it means much more. Surveillance investigations often involve multiple investigators, coordinating their efforts by high-tech, private, digital radio. We utilize the very latest computer database technology through the internet, and back to our Base where we have extensive electronic resources to assist the Investigators in the field. In the surveillance vehicles, we use the latest digital technology in video and still photography. Additionally, we use the latest digital and scanning equipment, giving us the technological edge over our competitors. We conduct operations discreetly, using pinhole cameras, night vision cameras, and listening devices as permitted by applicable law. And, when necessary, we will pursue Subjects underway in vehicles, including cars and boats.

7. “Do Baker Street Investigations investigators go under cover?”

Yes, absolutely, every day. Baker Street Investigations interjects private investigators and detectives “incognito” in undercover situations such as workplace environments, as “guests” with keen powers of observation at parties and gatherings, and even as trained observers to gather evidence in restaurants and taverns, as needed.

8. “I think my home and office may have been “bugged”, can you help me detect and remove them if you find any?”

Definitely. We have a specially-trained technician who is also a licensed private investigator with Baker Street Investigations who has the knowledge and equipment to conduct extensive “bug sweeps” in any environment, including homes, offices, even cars and boats. If someone has placed a bug, hidden video, or secret listening device to spy on you, we can locate and neutralize their equipment.

9. “Does Baker Street Investigations offer “after hours” services?”

Yes, our Baker Street Private Investigators are available for 24-hour assignments, 7-days a week throughout Florida’s Palm Beaches, Treasure Coast, and Central Florida. It is very typical for us to be conducting surveillance or information- gathering nights and weekends. We have associated offices which perform private investigative services throughout all of Florida, coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada, as well as world-wide by special arrangements. Baker Street’s Florida investigations service phones are answered from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm Florida time, 7-days a week, with messages returned asap.

10. “Does Baker Street Investigations do background checks?”

Absolutely! In the often-difficult times in which we all live, we all need information in order to protect ourselves and our assets. We conduct background checks on individuals, prospective employees, businesses, and agencies.

11. “What kinds of background check information can you locate at Baker Street Investigations?”

Everything that is available in the public record can be located, evaluated, and documented by Baker Street Investigations. We can trace a subject’s criminal history anywhere in Florida (nationwide or worldwide with special arrangements). We can provide information about previous marriages, locate previous addresses and vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, and aircraft. We can trace real estate and other tangible asset holdings. Baker Street Investigations’ trained researchers can locate previous phone numbers and, within the confines of the law, can locate cell phone numbers, and trace where calls came from on home phones, cell phones, and business phones. We can also locate professional licenses, such as real estate licenses, nursing licenses, physician licenses, insurance sales or stock broker licenses, etc. We can locate information on previous business partnerships, bankruptcies, insurance claims…even lottery winnings and workman’s compensation claims.

12. “Sounds great! May I refer my family, friends and colleagues to Baker Street Investigations?”

Absolutely! Please feel free to have them call us at our Florida Treasure Coast offices: 772- 878-7399. (The “Treasure Coast” includes Stuart, Florida … Jensen Beach, Florida … Port St. Lucie, Florida … Ft. Pierce, Florida … Vero Beach, Florida … and we also routinesly serve the general Palm Beach, Florida area, as well as Okeechobee, Lake Placid, and Sebring, Florida areas. Call anytime!

13. “How much does Baker Street Investigations charge for their work?”

Our rates are competitive. Generally, we charge $125.00 per hour for surveillance, for one licensed Private Detective, and one surveillance vehicle, if needed. Additional Baker Street Private Investigators can be added as needed and some discounts may apply in those cases. We do need a retainer. In view of our over 20 years’ experience, our rates tend to be a bit lower than other Private Detectives in the South Florida area. We are professionals, however, and believe in charging a fair fee for our services, not to unfairly exploit people. By the time people need a P.I., there is usually something extremely uncomfortable going on. We just will not take advantage of folks — ever — but especially not in times of crisis! (Please call us for quotes if you need special technology, out-of-town travel, or wish to retain our professional investigative services to work in other states or other nations.)

14. “Do you ever lose people when you are following them?”

Unfortunately, yes, sometimes. But, not often. Police and federal law enforcement agencies lose people, and as experienced as we are, it happens to us, too. Sometimes a person will be darting in and out of traffic and to pursue would place our private investigators/private detectives in danger as well. At other times, a traffic light will change at an inopportune time, or a train will come, or the vehicle being pursued will pull into a mall or other congested parking area where it is easy to “get lost” and where rapid pursuit would be both illegal and reckless. Your chances of a successful pursuit are vastly increased if you retain us to use two private investigators in separate surveillance vehicles. Sorry, if we do lose someone, we have still performed our services to the best of our ability and within the scope of the law and you will still be expected to pay the agreed rate. To repeat, it is rare that we lose someone, though.

15. “Will I receive a written Investigation Report?”

Absolutely. All of Baker Street Investigations’ Private Investigators and Detectives keep detailed and accurate notes. At the end of the investigation, these are transcribed and typed into a cohesive and understandable final Case Report, complete with details, times, places. If we have done video taping or taken still photographs, these will be presented to you along with your written report. Sometimes, circumstances make it uncomfortable for our clients to actually receive these reports because of fears that they may be located and viewed by the Subject of the investigation. (In other words, if you suspect your husband of cheating, you may not want to have a Baker Street Treasure Coast, Florida, investigations Surveillance Report in your home where your spouse may discover that you are having him followed.) We are happy to store all reports and investigative evidence gathered in our secure offices until they are needed for court or other purposes.

16. “My sister’s young daughter has been kidnapped by her “ex” and taken to another state but we are not sure where. Does Baker Street Investigations solve these types of cases?”

Yes. It is a sad commentary on our times that child abductions not only occur due to criminal elements but, often, are the result of divorce and separation issues. Too often, an ‘ex’ picks up a child from school or a friends house and simply disappears. The police are sensitive and dedicated to solving these cases and will do whatever they can … but they are burdened with unbelievably huge caseloads and, regrettably, often limited resources. They will work a child abduction case as intensively as they can for a period of time but, at a certain point, the case is filed as “inactive” because other, more-urgent work comes in. Although, unlike the police, we have to charge for our private detective services, we do not let a case get “cold” as long as you retain our services. Nor will be become bogged down with additional work (you may arrange for Baker Street Investigations to assign a specific detective and needed resources to your case full-time — for as long as it takes). Baker Street Florida Private Investigators have reciprocal arrangements with affiliated private detective offices in every American state and every province in Canada, as well as affiliates in virtually every nation worldwide.

17. “Will Baker Street Investigations personally send an investigator to another state or country?”

We will, and we do. Our case files include many interstate investigations, including a trip not too long ago to Illinois, investigations involving Texas, New York, California, and Kentucky. Last week we received an urgent call to send a Baker Street Investigator to Costa Rica on short notice. Whether your case involves the need for professional private investigations in the next Florida county, another U.S. state, or another nation, we are ready to assist you. And, we have the experience, the technology, and the network of private detectives to get the job done effectively.

18. “I have an ex-partner who owed money and vanished, can you find him?”

There’s an excellent chance that Baker Street Investigations can find your ex-partner! We have decades of experience in locating missing persons, people who have had amnesia and wandered off to start new lives, people who have been abducted…and people who have “gone on the lam” and are trying to avoid detection. Our world-wide resources include the ability to check nationality, US and international police records, social security number use, credit card and financial transactions, licenses, corporate stocks, local residences, even pseudonyms and aliases. We use our own extensive private detective people finder resources here at our Baker Street Investigations at our Treasure Coast, Florida, headquarters. However, we also employ the services of our vast network of other effective private detective affiliates, located everywhere and anywhere we need to search. These investigations are expensive and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly but, if you absolutely, positively, need to find a missing person, Baker Street Investigations stands ready to assist you.

19. “What is a Private Process Server?

A Private Process Server is a personlicensed by the State of Florida and who enters a public area of business to serve process in compliance with local and state laws and into a private place of business where there is an expectation of privacy to serve process. Any individual or individuals who try to resist the Process of Service, or obstruct Justice can be charged with a felony or misdemeanor. A Legal Process Server delivers Judicial Paperwork and, or files Legal Paperwork with a Court on behalf of Law Firms, Individuals, Corporations and Organization in accordance with the Law. Typical Process Serving, Process Service and Service of Process requests also include unlimited attempts to serve the party and Notarized Proof of Service upon completing the Legal Process of Service. The types of documents served are Subpoenas, Summons and Evictions.

20. “What is proof of service of process?”

A form filed with the court, typically an affidavit completed by the process server proving a date that legal documents were formally served to a party regarding a court action.

21. “What is acceptance of service of process?”

A defendant or their attorney can accept a complaint or other petition without having the sheriff or process server show up at the door. The acceptance of service must be in writing or there is no proof that it happened. Most jurisdictions require a “Receipt and Acknowledgment of Acceptance of Service”.

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Thank you for choosing Baker Street Investigations for all your private investigator and process service needs within the Fort Piece, Port St. Lucie and Stuart Florida areas.