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How do private investigators conduct surveillance?

Grant White • 2 December 2020

There is more than one type of surveillance…

‘Surveillance’, a word synonymous espionage, sneaking in the shadows, and trilby-topped, mac-wearing detectives. However, with the advancement of technology there are many ways in which surveillance can be conducted by private investigators.

Mobile- Mobile surveillance is when a vehicle is used to follow, track, and monitor a subject. An example of this would be to follow an individual who is driving by using your own vehicle to capture covert imagery.

Foot — Foot surveillance is where the subject and the operative are both using their feet as transport. An example of this would be an operative following a subject through a crowded city centre, maintaining sight (eyeball) on a subject through the busy streets.

Static- Static surveillance is where an operative can be in a vehicle or some other inconspicuous place where they are watching a single point of interest. An example of this would be an operative watching a front door from a vantage point to see who enters or leaves a premises.

Technical — Technical surveillance is a type of surveillance that utilises technology to aid investigations. An example would be a tracking device on a car, to determine the route or destination of a subject.

Online — Online surveillance uses open-source online resources to glean information about a subject. An example would be to use social media to get information about a subject’s general location.

Combined — Combined can be a mixture of all 5 of these different surveillance techniques that can be used together. For example, a 6 hour surveillance may include finding a subject’s address online (online surveillance) watching the subject leave the premises (static), following him in his car (mobile), planting a tracker on a subject’s car in a supermarket (technical), and following him through a shopping centre (foot).

Thank you for reading.
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