The information provided in the
Be Your
Own Detective section is comprised of excerpts from our Private
Investigators Training Course,
Secrets of
Top Private Eyes.
Important! Of all these, non-professionals should
attempt only Relationship Investigations surveillance. All other cases should be
handled by the pros.
Who Should Conduct a Surveillance?
You can surveillance someone you know, but to do so you must take extreme
precautions. If the target is known to you, you might be better off to
hire a trained Private Eye, or recruit one or more of your friends to do the
surveillance for you.
Evidence Gathering for Court
If you conduct a surveillance for the purpose of gathering evidence to be
presented in court, your
timed and dated notes, videotapes, and photographs will have much more
credibility with judge and jury if there was a witness present who is willing to
testify on your behalf.
Types of Surveillance
There are two types of surveillance: tailing, or shadowing (on foot, or by
private and public transportation), and fixed surveillance - also called "the
stakeout."
Plan Ahead
Gather all the information about the target's habits and haunts before you
attempt a surveillance. Know the neighborhood you'll be working. Plan possible
routes your target might take. Cover yourself by preparing an alternative plan
you can put into action should things suddenly go awry. If you've done your
homework, you may be able to reestablish a tail even if you lose it.
The more research you do the better. You'd be very foolish to go out on a
surveillance without knowing the neighborhood. Find out where you can sit, where
you can be. You're going to have to be patient and you're going to have to learn
how to get off the street because you're not going to be allowed to be on that
street but for about five minutes before that little old lady in tennis shoes is
going to be knocking on your car window wanting to know why the hell you're in
her neighborhood. And she's going to call the cops and they're going to come out
and they're going to want to know why you're on that street and you're going to
say, 'Well, I'm just here." And they're going to tell you to go away and
don't come back.
The neighbor who called is going to have to get pacified somehow that you're not
a bad guy. One technique is to sit on the passenger's side and not the drivers
side, as if you're waiting for someone.
A female is nowhere near as obtrusive as a male. That's one reason I have
females agents. We put the female in the shotgun position. Obviously she's
waiting for her husband. Not a problem.
Or, sit in the back seat and slump down. Dressing and disguising yourself can
help you in a surveillance - especially if the person you're following or
staking out knows you.
Become a Private Investigator with our Private
Investigator Home Training course.
Secrets of
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Positioning
The kind of stakeout you perform will be determined by the area in which you'll
be working. A neighbor's home, a hotel or motel room, an associate's office -
these are but a few of the stakeout positions from which you can observe,
photograph, and videotape what transpires.
A stakeout is most often accomplished in a car, van, or truck. A comfortable
room or an office from which to watch your target would be optimum, but that
kind of observation post is generally difficult to arrange. In a quiet
neighborhood, you are always more conspicuous than if parked, walking, or
standing on a busy city street. In a run-down section of the city, nothing but
old cars parked on the street, your shiny new car will stand out and attract
attention.
Think about borrowing or renting an older car to use in these areas. In
nicer residential areas, curious residents will notice you sitting in your
automobile and will come by to check you out. Or they'll call the police, who if
they arrive, question you and ask you to leave.
Perform a reconnaissance to familiarize yourself with the area before beginning
the stakeout. Top off the gas tank in case you have to follow your target a
distance. Check all exits of the house, apartment, or office building you intend
to surveil. Wear comfortable clothing that will blend in, clothes the target
will not recognize. Wear sunglasses and a baseball cap to disguise your face and
hair.
If the target knows you, he or she may still recognize you by body shape,
coloring or other features and traits - even if you are fully disguised.
Anticipate where target is going; change to clothing appropriate to the
environment, i.e. bathing suit at the beach, dressy clothes in a fancy
restaurant.
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If possible, park in front of a store, bar, or service station. Slide over to
the passenger side or slump down in the back seat. Pretend to be waiting for
someone while reading a road map or newspaper.
Surveillance takes time, so relax and learn to be patient. You may be sitting in
one spot for a long while. Minimize eating and drinking to alleviate the need to
break surveillance to locate a bathroom.
Become a Private Investigator with our Private
Investigator Home Training course.
Secrets of
Top Private Eyes.
Read More>
Change Appearance
When I going on surveillance take a change of clothes - sometimes a couple
changes of clothes. If you anticipate your subject may be going to the beach,
bring along a swim suit, towel, shorts, and shirt - anything you may need to fit
into where the subject might be going. When following someone for a long period
of time - like foot to car, or in the mall - have a jacket with you to change
the color of what you're wearing.
Cover Story
Prepare a cover story in case you're spotted, identified and questioned.
The cover story you prepare for the police or a suspicious neighbor may not be a
good cover story for your target if he or she spots you. Following are items and
methods one might employ:
Business cards: Consider business cards for touchy situations
ID card: Picture ID cards look impressive w/official seal & thumb print.
Your dog: You're out walking your dog. Perfectly legal. Dog leash: Your dog
ran away. You're out looking for the pooch. Ask people to keep a lookout. Be
prepared with the dog's name & description, the pet's breed, color, size, and
markings. Know your own name, where you live, etc: your "bonifieds.
Real estate agent: A realtor friend may accompany you on your
surveillance and thereby provide you with a good cover story.
Your children: Parents with children are generally above suspicion.
Instruct children to say nothing. (Good luck on that one.)
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