Your Union City Private Investigator for Surveillance and Investigations
Bear Witness is the private investigator in Union City that families, attorneys, and businesses call when they need facts, not guesses. Union City is a city of about 68,000 people in Alameda County. We are a veteran-owned, California-licensed firm (PI #18755), and surveillance is what we do best.
Our Union City clients include individuals facing infidelity or a missing family member, parents in custody and support disputes, employers and insurers dealing with fraud, and law firms that need evidence and testimony. What they share is a need for discreet, lawful surveillance that holds up.
Union City Surveillance Investigations: Our Specialty
As a Union City private investigator, surveillance is the core of what we do. We document activity legally, discreetly, and in a way that holds up in court.
Mobile Surveillance
Experienced drivers who anticipate turns and freeway exits, so your subject is documented from stop to stop.
Static Surveillance
We hold position at the locations that matter to your case and record activity with time-stamped video.
Two-Investigator Teams
Team surveillance covers multiple exits and keeps a moving subject in sight in heavy Northern California traffic.
The average commute in Union City is about 33 minutes, so work-related surveillance often means following a route, not waiting at one address.
Cases Our Union City Private Investigators Take On
Whatever the situation, the work comes down to documenting the facts lawfully and clearly.
Personal Cases
- Runaways & missing persons — people-location work to find someone who has gone missing or run away.
- Nanny & daycare surveillance — observing caregiver conduct and advising on what in-home recording is legal.
- Infidelity & cheating spouse — documenting where a partner goes and who they meet, without them knowing.
Family Law Cases
- Lifestyle investigations — showing how someone actually lives when income or need is in dispute.
- Divorce investigations — facts and evidence your family law attorney can use.
- Child custody — facts that help a court decide what is best for your child.
- Child visitation — documenting visitation exchanges and compliance with the court order.
- Child support — uncovering unreported work that affects support.
- Cohabitation — documenting cohabitation that can affect spousal support under Family Code 4323.
Business Cases
- Insurance defense — field work that supports a strong defense.
- Employee theft — quietly confirming suspected theft so you can respond with facts.
- Business partner surveillance — answers before you sign or after trust breaks down.
- Workers’ comp fraud — documenting claimant activity across Alameda County.
- Injury claims — documenting physical activity relevant to personal injury claims.
Law Firm Cases
- Evidence gathering — court-ready documentation for litigation.
- Court testimony — credible testimony from the investigator who did the work.
- Witness statements — finding and interviewing the people who saw what happened.
- Records research — court, property, business, and public records research.
- Surveillance — surveillance your client’s case can stand on.
- Evasive subpoena service — serving witnesses and parties who are avoiding service.
What Sets Our Union City Investigators Apart
Not every Union City private investigator specializes in surveillance. Here is what makes Bear Witness different.
Surveillance Specialists
Surveillance has been our focus since 1996. It is not a side service — it is what we do best.
Statewide Coverage
Coverage across Southern, Northern, and Central California, including all of Alameda County.
Available 24/7
Cases don’t keep business hours. We take calls and work surveillance day, night, and weekends.
Honest Results
If nothing is going on, we tell you. A clear answer is the goal, not more billable hours.
Direct Access to Your Investigator
One investigator from your first call to your final report, with updates along the way.
Court-Ready Evidence
Evidence gathered lawfully and documented the way California judges and attorneys expect.
What Our Clients Say
Real reviews from Bear Witness clients across California.
“James, thank you for stepping in and helping out our law firm! You came highly recommended to us by a colleague as the go-to-guy for all things surveillance. Good communication skills & excellent work!”
“Thank you for all your help. You guys were really great! I will definitely refer your private detective agency to all my friends & colleagues in need.”
“Excellent communication, insight, and follow-through skills. Very impressed with your surveillance video. Excellent work. Thank you! Will refer to friends in need.”
Names and/or locations altered for client privacy. Read more client reviews →
Union City Cases and the Alameda County Courts
Union City sits roughly 16 miles from Oakland, the Alameda County seat, where the main Superior Court of California, County of Alameda facilities are located.
If your Union City matter ends up in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, documentation quality decides whether the evidence helps. We keep chain-of-custody records and write reports in plain chronological order.
Also Serving Near Union City
Cases rarely stay inside one city limit. From Union City, we regularly work:
Straight-line distances from Union City.
Working With a Union City Private Investigator, Step by Step
- 1
Free Consultation
Tell a licensed investigator what you know and what you need confirmed. Completely confidential.
- 2
Plan & Estimate
We build a plan around your subject’s routine in Union City and give you a written estimate before any work begins.
- 3
Surveillance
Your investigator documents activity with time-stamped video and keeps you updated.
- 4
Report & Evidence
You receive a clear written report, photos, and video — plus testimony if needed.
Questions About Hiring a Private Investigator in Union City
Do you also cover Hayward and Fremont?
Yes. Hayward is about 5 miles from Union City and Fremont about 9 miles, and both are part of our regular coverage in Northern California.
What does a private investigator in Union City do?
We document facts for personal, family law, business, and legal cases — most often through surveillance, along with background research, people location, witness statements, and process serving.
Do you specialize in surveillance?
Yes. Surveillance has been Bear Witness’s specialty since 1996, and it is part of nearly every case we handle in Union City and across California.
Do you handle workers’ compensation and insurance claims?
Yes. We conduct claimant surveillance and claim investigations for employers, insurers, and defense counsel.
Can you help find a runaway or missing person?
Yes. We use people-location and investigative techniques to find family members and others who have left or lost touch.
Is everything I tell you confidential?
Yes. Your case is handled by your assigned investigator and never discussed with anyone outside the firm.
Do I need to meet in person?
No. Most Union City clients handle everything by phone, from the first call to the final report.
Can you document cohabitation for a spousal support case?
Yes. Under California Family Code section 4323, a supported spouse living with a partner can create a presumption of decreased need for support. We document cohabitation for you and your attorney.
What if the investigation finds nothing?
You get an honest report that says so. A clean result still answers the question.
Ready to talk to a private investigator in Union City? Call 1(877)PROOF-24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.