THESE EYES ARE PRIVATE

Thinking of private investigators, the names Jake Gittes, Mike Hammer and Jim Rockford come almost immediately to mind. None of these fictional gumshoes worked in Orange County, but plenty of others do. According to the state of California, there are 570 PIs practicing in the county, about 10% of the statewide total. That’s a 42% increase here in just 5 years. Below is a sampling of county hawkshaws, their rates and territories:

FEES Working Years in Name Hourly Mileage Territory Business Toni K. Bovee $40 & up 25-35 cents So. Calif. 1 1/2 450 W. 4th St. Santa Ana (714) 541-5151 Alan Clow N/A 30 cents United States N/A 1201 Dove St. Newport Beach (714) 955-1410 Crandall & $25-$50 20-40 cents So. Calif. 9 Associates 901 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana (714) 972-8000 Crown 50 40 cents United States 14 Investigation 1120 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach (714) 536-2445 Egar $45 40 cents No limit 3 Investigation 2020 N. Broadway Santa Ana (714) 836-6978 Elite Negotiable Not available So. Calif. 3 1/2 Investigation 1530 W. Lincoln 104, Anaheim (714) 758-8300 Geerlings $35-55 22 cents No limit 1 Investigation 2520 N. Santiago Blvd., Orange (714) 921-1590 Investigative $30-40 35-45 cents No limit 3 Services of California 285 E. Imperial Highway Fullerton (714) 441-1771 The Klaus Group $30-125 25 cents United States 8 1666 Newport Blvd.,Costa Mesa (714) 548-8151 Protections & $35 35 cents California 7 Investigations 828 N. Bristol Street Suite 201 Santa Ana (714) 953-1611

Work Name 24 Hours Toni K. Bovee Yes 450 W. 4th St. Santa Ana (714) 541-5151 Alan Clow Yes 1201 Dove St. Newport Beach (714) 955-1410 Crandall & Yes Associates 901 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana (714) 972-8000 Crown Yes Investigation 1120 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach (714) 536-2445 Egar Yes Investigation 2020 N. Broadway Santa Ana (714) 836-6978 Elite No Investigation 1530 W. Lincoln 104, Anaheim (714) 758-8300 Geerlings Yes Investigation 2520 N. Santiago Blvd., Orange (714) 921-1590 Investigative Yes Services of California 285 E. Imperial Highway Fullerton (714) 441-1771 The Klaus Group Yes 1666 Newport Blvd.,Costa Mesa (714) 548-8151 Protections & Yes Investigations 828 N. Bristol Street Suite 201 Santa Ana (714) 953-1611

Note: All the investigators listed above have some form of liability insurance, including errors and omissions insurance (malpractice coverage for PIs). All private investigators must be licensed by the state, but since 1983 bonding is not required.

Source: Individual agencies