Blog Layout

5 tips for covert surveillance that you need to know

Grant • 24 March 2021

5 tips for every Private Investigator

If you've been in the game a while you should not be forgiven for not knowing these 5 things that every PI should know.

- 3 cameras always

A camcorder, a mirrorlesss or SLR with long range capabilities and a cover camera are the minimum to ensure you get the footage your client needs. Before engaging the use of any devices keep in mind if the footage will be helpful. You can be in the right place at the right time but without the right equipment then it just won't work.

- Full tank of petrol/gas

You never know where you may need to go and if you've bee instructed to follow them all the way then you need a full tank of petrol to ensure you don't get left behind filling up. Even worse is when you need to fill up and have to do it at the same station as the POI.

- Record keeping

Keep a record of everything that happens as it happens. Your memory is not perfect and not everything will have video footage. To ensure you have great records and happy clients write things down or make a record of things as they happen. Private investigators are known for their good record keeping skills, don't let us down.

- Bring a high visibility jacket and a dog lead

Versatility and adaptability is paramount as you never know when you may need to go on foot or go mobile in static situations. To help you will need a few social indicators that you are acting and behaving normally, remember abnormal or unusual behaviour is the best way of getting burned. Use these types of equipment to give the social cues that you are in the right place.

- Bring a urine bottle

A strong bladder is needed for all PI's however you will need a container for urine. Even if the surveillance is short bring a bottle for this. We recommended a dedicated bottle as this avoids any mess and will hopefully keep your vehicle seats clean. For female you may need to look into more technical devices with tubes or a funnel to ensure no mess. Don't get distracted because you need to go, bring a bottle every investigator needs one.

Extra tip!

Make sure to bring additional SD cards. Ensure they are high quality class 10, we recommend Sandisk Extreme Pro cards. Remember they can and do fail, higher quality cards are less likely to fail.

5 tips, private investigator, surveillance tips, five tips for every PI, urine bottle, 3 cameras, full tank, record keeping, high visibility jacket, blend in, detectives, uk, dorset, somerset, wiltshire
private investigator desk, computer, PI software, investigation
26 February 2023
A trained Private Investigator with years of experience reveals the 3 things you must know about Open Source Intelligence in the context of Private Investigations.
real investigator report, private investigator report, photographs, document, binder
by Grant 9 November 2022
How do Private Investigators find the information you are looking for? A detective working with Operant Investigators gives details on how OSINT provides significant data points for investigators.
private investigators desk, private investigator computer, monitor, desk, software
by Grant 18 August 2022
To understand investigations you must understand OSINT, to understand it you need to know the 5 reasons why it is critical. All Private Investigators use it, this is why.
5 March 2022
What types of overt photography do Private Investigators engage in and what equipment do they use?
17 January 2022
A common problem all agents encounter, especially so in cities is the problem of parking. A good parking location for a vehicle is essential in ensuring line of sight (LOS) and gathering recordings behind tint or disguised. Now you may be thinking, you would solve this problem through foot surveillance. This isn't always helpful, residential areas may not have many people on foot nearby, there may be nowhere to sit or bled in and a host of other reasons may want your bottom firmly planted in a car seat for this one. So you arrive or even better, as part of a recce (reconnaissance) or planning, you notice a parking problem. I find it helpful to break up the different problems into categories, I will list the types of scenarios. 2 Primary types of areas Urban - City or Town Rural - Villages, farms, greenery or forests Primary types of problems No LOS - Cannot observe the property or points of egress LOS but too distant - Cannot record of observe with any accuracy or with the level of responsiveness needed LOS but blocked - Your vision is obstructed temporarily Too close - The risk of exposure is too high and no places further away are available Primary causes of problems Temporary blockage by vehicle - A behemoth has just parked in your LOS Double yellow lines - No parking here Single yellow lines - Restricted at certain times, they will always be the times you need to be their All spaces are in use - The most frequent issue Moved too many times already - You've been moving around frequently and are reaching a point where further movement between spaces will compromise the surveillance A mixture - A mix of the above It is incredibly frustrating when your turn up to perform your surveillance and have nowhere to park. You know the client will not be happy and your stuck in a tough spot. Parking for private investigators is an essential part of the work and for some cases is strictly required to ensure good results.
man watching, investigator, private investigator, covert surveillance, car
by Grant White 25 September 2021
Who is able to hire a Private Investigator in the UK? Is it legal?
whatsapp, sherlock, investigator, glass, messaging, private investigator
by Grant White 25 September 2021
Can a Private Investigator access whatsapp messages? Can they see your private messages?
by Grant White 18 September 2021
How much does a Private Investigator charges for their services, what kind of fees can you expect and what will the cost be?
by Grant White 18 September 2021
Many people ask: "What do private investigators get hired for?" So, we've compiled a list: What do private investigators get hired for? 1. Surveillance. 2. Finding addresses. 3. Finding someone. 4. Verifying information. 5. Gathering intelligence for further action. However, this is not an exhaustive list of what a private investigator can do. There are many different applications and benefits of hiring a private investigator. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a private investigator: 1. Save money - Instead of dedicating an in-house employee to do the job, a quick and easy way would be to hire a PI short term to get the job done properly. 2. Save time - Time is money; private investigators investigate for a living, they can do the job quickly, professionally, and accurately getting the best results. The term 'Private Investigator is not that specific', but rather an umbrella term for people that act in the area of investigation - each with varying skill-sets and specialisations. Here are some of he common skill-sets a private investigator may specialise in. 1. Financial & Cryptocurrency investigations. 2. Business intelligence. 3. Surveillance. 4. Social engineering. 5. Tracing. 6. Fraud. 7. Background checks. 8. Employee absenteeism. 9. Property. 10. Company checks. Sometimes private investigators are picking up the pieces of a previous investigation, and can include many of these above listed investigations in one case.
8 September 2021
The penal code review in France which made Private Investigator use in civil proceedings legal.
Show More
Share by: