Conducting surveillance is an art form. There is much more to it than simply watching an individual or following someone as they drive or go for a walk. To conduct surveillance professionally, it is best learned from someone who: (1) is experienced; and (2) has learned proper methods of conducting it. While there are some definite do's and don'ts in this business, there is no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach.
The most important aspect of a successful surveillance mission is not to be seen. This is not to say that you should put on a sniper's ghillie suit and hide in the bushes. Not being seen simply means that you blend in with your surroundings well enough not to be detected by your target(s). In the military, we would say this is dependent on METT-TC (Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available, Time available, Civil considerations). When applying this to civilian Private Investigator surveillance, a few adjustments needs to be made but the basic concept remains the same:
Mission - What is the goal of the surveillance?
Enemy - What and/or whom will you conduct surveillance against?
Terrain and weather - City or rural? Rain or shine? Dress appropriately!
Troops and support available - Will this be conducted by a single person or as a team?
Time available - The amount of time to do an entire mission.
Civil considerations - Will this be in an upscale neighborhood or lower income? What are the demographics of the area?
If these basic considerations are followed, an investigator can effectively hide in plain sight.
I once worked for a company where, on one particular case, it was decided to have more than one investigator conducting surveillance on a target individual. At first I was glad to have more eyes on the target, but that excitement quickly faded. When I arrived at the target site, the first thing I noticed was a large, red, SUV parked in the middle of an empty parking lot, far away from any stores. There was no reason for the vehicle to be where it was. Additionally, the vehicle was running and the driver sat behind the wheel, window down, smoking a cigarette. By the looks of the pile of cigarette butts next to the driver's door, he had been there for some time. Clearly, METT-TC was not important to this investigator.
When doing an assignment that requires static surveillance, i.e. an investigator to be standing or sitting in one location for a length of time, it can be difficult to blend in with your surroundings, particularly when the surveillance is done in an established neighborhood where everyone knows everyone and any little thing out of place is quickly noticed. Having a good cover story of why you are there is essential. For example, have a picture of a missing child. When approached by concerned residents, simply tell them you have heard the child may be in the area, and give them an 800 number to call should they see the child. Most people will offer to keep their eyes open and probably not approach you again. Regardless, your vehicle will very quickly stand out as not belonging to that area, and you very likely will be approached at some point by residents. Be prepared!
One question I am frequently asked by private investigator interns: "Should I report the location of my surveillance to the police?" The answer, like most things in this business is, "It depends." There are pros and cons to this, and careful consideration needs to be paid to both. I have had investigators tell me that, after placing a call to the local police department, a police officer would approach their vehicle and give away their position. I've never personally had this experience, but it is something to consider. Also, if a concerned citizen calls the police department to report that a strange vehicle, i.e. yours, is sitting in or cruising around their neighborhood, it is possible the dispatcher will tell them not to be concerned because it is just a private investigator, again giving away your position. A good rule to follow is that if you will be in an area for longer than an hour, call it in. If you don't, and a concerned citizen calls it in ahead of you, your position will definitely be compromised when the police officer approaches you with his lights flashing and asks why you are there.
Another typical question: "How far from the target should you place yourself?" The simple answer is to place yourself where you can see the target. The more accurate answer is more complicated. Look at it this way: think of a situation where you are looking out your living room window at someone on the sidewalk. If you place yourself against the window, you can see the individual on the sidewalk but the individual on the sidewalk will likely see you as well. However, if you place yourself against the far wall away from the window, you can still see the individual on the sidewalk but he is less likely to see you. If you then place yourself against the far wall away from the window, and at an angle to the window, you can still see the individual on the sidewalk but the chances of the individual on the sidewalk seeing you is even less. The downside to this is that the farther away you place yourself from the window, and the more of an angle you take, your field of view narrows considerably.
Take this lesson and apply it to a surveillance mission using METT-TC. If the object of the surveillance (Mission) is to observe a static location to see who (Enemy) will enter or exit, a narrow view may be acceptable. However, if the object is to follow an individual, you will need a wider view to see the likely avenues of departure.
The likely avenues of approach and departure, as well as city or rural settings (Terrain), will also dictate how and where to place your surveillance. Prior to any surveillance mission, it is highly recommended that you conduct a reconnaissance of the area. At the very least, look at Google Earth or Google Maps to observe entrances and exits, dead ends, and likely avenues of approach and departure. Keep in mind that Google Earth may not show new roads, construction, or other obstacles because of Google's infrequent updates.
The more people you have conducting surveillance (Troops available), the more important METT-TC becomes because it will be applied to each team member as they find their positions in the "box" (i.e. perimeter around a target). This is especially true when you consider how long (Time available) each team member will need to be in a static position, while remaining hidden in plain sight. You also will need to know how to dress and present yourself in a given neighborhood (Civil considerations). A white male in a suit and tie will likely stand out in a lower-income neighborhood with predominantly minority residents.
Most surveillance conducted by Private Investigators will be conducted alone rather than as a team simply because of the cost considerations. The better prepared a Private Investigator is, the more successful he/she will be. METT-TC is a good rule of thumb to follow. Using this method will cause less surveillance to be blown and fewer targets of surveillance to be lost. More success at surveillance means you will build and maintain a profitable business that earns an excellent reputation.
Secure Solutions & Design is a private investigations and security consulting company comprised of retired military special operations, human intelligence and counterintelligence personnel. We have decades of experience in conducting surveillance, investigations and security operations / executive protection details around the globe.