Surveillance is bread and butter work for PIs working all kinds of different cases, from missing persons to insurance fraud, to theft and vandalism, to determining if a parent is fit to have child custody or visitation rights to proving marital infidelity.
What Is Surveillance?
Surveillance is the close observation of a person, place, or object. It is the practice of watching a subject in order to document the interactions or whereabouts of the subject.
When Is Surveillance Used?
- Missing person searches
- Cheating spouse investigations
- Recurrent theft
- Worker’s compensation cases
- Vandalism
- Fraud Investigations
- Criminal Investigations
- Common Types of Surveillance
There are a variety of ways to carry out surveillance, including the use of electronics, physical observation, conducting interviews, and using technology.
Electronic
Electronic Surveillance is the type of documentation private investigators most often use. It involves utilizing devices like television, wiretapping, and radios to document activity. It also includes monitoring an individual’s use of their phones, email, and social media.
Physical Observation
Physical Observation is when investigators physically follow or watch a subject. This can potentially involve disguises, stakeouts, and multiple investigators.
Interviews
Interviews are conducted by investigators to discover as much information as possible about the subject. The people interviewed could include family members, neighbors, friends, or coworkers.
Technical
Technical surveillance encompasses digital photography and video/audio recordings. Examples of these are surveillance cameras used by businesses and dash cameras used by both police officers and private investigators.
Surveillance Methods
Along with types of surveillance, there are different tactics used by investigators in order to obtain information.
Overt vs. Covert
An example of overt investigation includes the security cameras businesses use that deter clients from stealing. Covert investigation, however, is undetected, like an undercover detective trailing a subject
Mobile vs. Stationary
Mobile investigation involves detectives following their subjects, whether on foot or in a vehicle. Stationary investigation is remaining in one location, which could include watching the subject from a parked car.
Mechanical vs. Human
Mechanical investigation is the use of video cameras, voice recorders, and other such equipment. Human investigation is when a member of the investigative team is a direct source of information.
Why Conduct Surveillance?
There are a variety of reasons, from investigating crime to locating an individual, to conduct a surveillance investigation.
- To prevent crime
- To obtain evidence of a crime
- To obtain evidence in civil suits
- To document an individual’s location
- To document activities in/around a location
- To obtain information for interrogation purposes
- To obtain information to be used in court
How Surveillance Works
- An investigator will get to know the client first, delving into their desires and expectations for the investigation. This determines the depth and means of the study.
- The investigator will then conduct an extensive background check on the subject. Vital information includes the subject’s name, address, phone number, physical description, photograph, and local relatives. Their habits, hobbies, schedules, and coworkers are also important to note.
- Next, an investigator will familiarize themselves with the area where the investigation will be taking place, usually via maps and pictures. Being familiar with the location during both the day and night will result in a more effective investigation.
- An investigator will then decide on what equipment the particular case calls for and know how to most effectively use it. Some of this could be equipment specifically for investigators, like dash cameras or tinted windows, but also included are things as simple as a flashlight and a full tank of gas.
Private Eyes, Inc. can assist you with prevalent issues like marital infidelity, employee dishonesty, and crime.
Contact a Specialist today 866.PRI.EYES (774.3937)
