I'm a private investigator for hours and have been for several years. A lot of what I do involves surveillance of my vehicle. The cases usually involve labor insurance claims for injuries and issues of infidelity.
With regard to insurance claims, there is rarely a case where not find dirt on someone. I just work a case where a young man came out with a back injury after 4 days at work. On the 2nd day of surveillance, I found the ride a skateboard.
Let me share 10 techniques of surveillance / research I took along the way and other private investigators.
1) The Mini-vans are best for monitoring. Get tinted glass so you can sit in the back, virtually unnoticed, most anywhere. I like the older mini-vans, such as caravans, they are more nimble and blend in better (they're everywhere) than newer ones. Once you've solved a van you will never a car.
2) Stay on top of the vehicle when blight in the city, and allow a car between you as a buffer in slower areas. There are too many stoplights, stop signs and traffic in the city, making it easy to lose the tail.
3) Lack of dew on a vehicle during morning hours could indicate it was moved sometime that night.
4) Check the address box looking for a name or peeking in the mail if you are sticking out.
5) Determine if the residence is a single or multifamily home counting # of electric meters.
6) While tying someone, you notice that the person is in front of a house-you (as cover) continue past, turn into a driveway empty as if you belong there. Keep track of the person.
7) Take detailed notes via pen and paper or voice recorder. Enter the date / times, make them and there plate of any vehicle, any vehicle movement, anyone appearing, good notes and so on. are crucial for yourself and for the report you give to the customer. You, as a private investigator may be asked to testify so accuracy is critical.
8) Exactly calculating the height of an individual can be difficult (which is why those letters are in height filled doors). You can get a good idea by comparing the height of the individual to any vehicle in which or out. This will become easier with practice.
9) When the video is running, there lots of stop start the camera - create definite borders between clips by placing hand over the camera at the end of each segment. Make sure a time and date stamp appears on tape (setting on camera). Aways get a panoramic video shot of location and vehicle for video verification that the person was there.
10) The Stake-outs can run several hours and occur in non-crowded situations optimal ieno close, so keep a roll of toilet paper your car forever.
Surveillance involves hours, nothing followed by minutes or even seconds of intense excitement. Make those small parcels of excitement pay off well by following appropriate research techniques.
Monday, November 30, 2009
