Austin Witnesses Rise in Commercial Burglaries
In a startling turn of events, an increasing number of commercial establishments in Austin, Texas have been falling victim to a recent surge in burglaries. The situation has even led to some businesses seeking out the help of private investigators to get to the bottom of these incidents, the frequency of which has taken a toll on the local businesses’ operations.
Spurt in Burglaries Affects Local Businesses
Will Black, the general manager of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop located off Lamar Boulevard, has been working at bike shops for the last 43 years and often remarks that he has “the greatest job in the world.” But recently, he has been deviated from his love for his job due to a spate of burglaries at his shop. In a typical burglary incident, the perpetrator would break a window, enter the shop, steal an armful of merchandise, and move out swiftly, causing serious financial and operational loss to the shop.
Private Investigators To The Rescue
Seeing the repeated incidents, Black decided to take matters into his own hands and sought the services of Dave Amis, a Texas private investigator with Strider PI. Dave and his team quickly swung into action, identifying as many as four suspects. The matter was then handed over to the Austin Police Department, who have since arrested three of the suspects.
Dave highlighted the rising demand for private investigators, saying, “We’re definitely getting called on more frequently”. He explains that as private investigators they can dedicate their focus entirely to a client’s case, allowing them to act more aggressively and move fast.
The Legality of a Private Investigator’s Evidence
With private investigators being hired to step in, questions arise regarding the admissibility of the evidence they gather in a court of law. According to defense attorney Alan Bennett, a former prosecutor in Travis County, as long as the evidence is obtained legally, it is admissible in court. The same set of rules applies to both private investigators and law enforcement: they need to establish the location of the evidence, how it was recovered, and the chain of custody regarding where the evidence has been since.
Looking Forward
Since hiring the services of the private investigator, Black has seen a decrease in burglaries at his property and hopes to concentrate on his work, which he loves dearly. “I just want to go back to taking care of the community,” he shared.
As adequately equipped private investigators are proving to be a formidable force in crime solving, more businesses might explore this route in order to protect their establishments from burglars and ensure a secure environment for their operations.