Police and private investigators conduct surveillance operations for different purposes and using a plethora of methods. Preventive surveillance is usually conducted on a fixed position, a business that has suffered multiple break-ins or perhaps vandalism. This type of surveillance is designed to catch what is usually an unknown perpetrator and are example of a static surveillance. Personal protective service may include an external watch on a clients home or business. Static surveillance methods may include remote cameras and other unmanned devices, or a person in a vehicle or adjoining building.

Rolling or Mobile Surveillance; Disappear in a Crowd

A rolling surveillance is conducted on foot or from a vehicle. To be effective you need three to four vehicles or persons conducting the surveillance making it difficult to be ‘burned’ or identified as a tail. Intelligence agencies train their personnel in both surveillance and counter surveillance techniques. A rolling surveillance is used by private investigators as a primary technique in divorce cases as they surveil a suspected cheating spouse. One of the tenets is to blend in with the crowd. Cars have to be nondescript ‘plain vanilla’ without any attention drawing features. White, off-white and silver blend with about 90% of the vehicles on the typical thoroughfare. Red, yellow or black vehicles tend to attract unwanted scrutiny. Dress should blend with the surroundings. Reversible jacket, a spare cap and sunglasses allow the tail to change his appearance. Clothing tends to be casual, but in business areas, a suit or sports coat with slacks is an appropriate choice. A good pair of shoes rounds out the attire. If collecting evidence, a camera needs to be carried; enter the smart phone. With auxiliary lenses available, a smart phone can remotely record stills or video. Indeed the smart phone is the number one tool for bad guys casing a location.

Evidence & Privacy Rules & Regulations

There are rules that mostly cover privacy, with the details varying from state to state. Generally you cannot photograph or record video through an open window into the interior of the home. You have to restrict these activities to locations that are public and where no or low expectation of privacy exists. The paparazzi following public figures take their photos in open and public venues with no legal recourse by the subject under surveillance. Recording audio can be slippery in some jurisdictions. Amplified shotgun mics and other techniques may be restricted in different scenarios. Remember the private investigators are restricted as they do not operate under court authority, i.e. warrants. Evidence presented in a case must conform to the rules of evidence; the reason a private investigator is engaged at all. The private eye should have a combination of experience, education and professional training as he or she must present evidence in a court. The investigator must be cognizant of local laws. Not as strictly constrained by constitutional rights, the private investigator’s action must correspond to accepted protocols. Invasion of privacy can get a private investigators license revoked.

Counter Surveillance

Surveillance procedures and methods need to be practiced, as well as counter surveillance. There two parties in an investigation, both have the right to engage professional services, it would be of positive advantage to know if your operations is being watched by a competitor hired by the subject you’re watching. Might not happen a lot, but very, very possible.

Private Investigator, Surveillance & More in Greater Miami, Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton & Miami Gardens Florida

A professional investigator has to be familiar with all the laws surrounding surveillance and collection of audible, photographic and video evidence. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Fort Lauderdale Florida offers professionally conducted surveillance as part of our investigative services. Contact us today!