| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | time if the investigator listens to that intuitive |
| It is very common within the private investigation | | | | voice within that is your sixth sense getting |
| industry to refer to surveillance as part art and | | | | information from sources beyond the normal. I |
| part science. Some even state the longer one | | | | was working a corporate case locally in New |
| does it he/she can become an alchemist and | | | | Jersey trying to acquire a positive ID on a subject |
| transforms it from the science into the art at a | | | | for a client who had been scammed a significant |
| highly developed level, well I modified that | | | | amount of money through an elaborate fraud |
| statement a little to get my point across. | | | | scheme. I stakeout the subject’s house |
| Surveillance art and its esoteric components will | | | | for six hours with no activity, I made a call to his |
| be addressed and surveillance science and its | | | | residence, I received his answering machine and |
| exoteric components will be addressed in the next | | | | there were no vehicles parked in the driveway or |
| article. | | | | nearby. |
| Surveillance can be defined as the continuous | | | | I had no idea of his schedule, but had a deep |
| watching (overtly or covertly) of persons, | | | | feeling he was home. This case was a one man |
| vehicles, places or objects to obtain information | | | | surveillance restricted by the budgetary restraints |
| concerning the activities and identities of individuals. | | | | of the client so I had to think on my feet. I |
| To achieve the successful objective of obtaining | | | | approached the subject’s residence, |
| information the operative whether law | | | | parked my vehicle, positioned my camcorder |
| enforcement personnel or private investigator | | | | through the passenger side door of vehicle, |
| utilizes intuition, street savvy, equipment and pre | | | | turned it on and proceeded to the front door of |
| surveillance information. Being a private | | | | his residence. I knocked and moved to the left to |
| investigator for Peace of Mind Private | | | | allow the camcorder to capture the potential |
| Investigators, that specializes in surveillance and | | | | meeting. He opened the door and asked how he |
| former law enforcement officer gives me a | | | | could help me. I stated that my car had broken |
| perspective on how surveillance applies in both | | | | down and I was waiting to be picked up and |
| contexts. However, its applicability to the private | | | | considered it prudent to notify the occupants of |
| investigation industry will be explored and | | | | his residence because my vehicle would have to |
| emphasized. | | | | remain in front of his house until the following day |
| The most important equipment a private | | | | when I would return to retrieve it. He said okay, |
| investigator has available during the course of | | | | while everything was captured on videotape. I |
| conducting surveillance is his mind and its esoteric | | | | returned to my car and uploaded the video to my |
| components. The pre-surveillance information may | | | | client who positively identified the subject and will |
| indicated that the an insurance benefits claimant | | | | be pursuing legal actions against him. How did I |
| maybe working and leaves for work at 7:30 a.m., | | | | know he was at home? I had a hunch, a gut |
| but if your intuition tells you that the day of | | | | feeling, intuition. Herein manifests the art of |
| surveillance he will be leaving at 6:30 a.m. follow it | | | | surveillance, the intangible component that cannot |
| and be on site one hour earlier. There is no | | | | be learned from a book or course, but must be |
| tangible reconnaissance information for the earlier | | | | developed by the surveillance investigator out in |
| start, but a successful surveillance assignment is | | | | the field doing his craft. The art is being able to |
| dependent on more than tangible components. | | | | think on your feet, trusting your intuition, adapting |
| You can have the best camcorder, digital camera, | | | | to the case requirements, using unorthodox |
| surveillance vehicle modified to be non descript, | | | | methods if necessary, but staying within the |
| excellent pre surveillance data on subject, but the | | | | parameters of the law. The more one develops in |
| intuition of the investigator about where to set up | | | | proficiency, it is poetry in motion, living in the |
| for surveillance, when to back off when following | | | | moment transcending the actual surveillance and |
| a subject, is subject going to leave earlier, etc., | | | | tapping into faculties that can be applied to all |
| becomes an innate attribute that develops with | | | | aspects of life. |