Private Investigator at Work-Static Surveillance Techniques

In becoming an effective surveillance operative, one of the most crucial skill that need to be grasped and mastered is the skill to set up a static observation post or some other private investigator terms it as “stationary surveillance post”. Relevant questions such as “Where do I set up my surveillance vehicle?”, How close should I be to the subject’s house?”, and “What if I can’t see the subject’s residence directly?”, are all the questions that might crop up in the course of carrying out the surveillance measure. Below are some insights that might be considered in addressing the issues above:-

1. Where to Park?-In static surveillance measure, most of the time, you’ll need to identify a spot where minimal interference can be ensured. You don’t want the neighborhood to easily notice your vehicle and started to spread news about your vehicle parked at site and in spur of moment, your vehicle become the center of attraction. Therefore, it is best that prior to the actual measure, a visit to the site to be carried out and a viable assessment to be conducted in term of the neighborhood security coverage, types of residence (intermediate, semi detached or condominium) and various others. We’ve had an experience setting up static surveillance post in the upper compartment of a playground slide leaving our vehicles parked outside the residential main gate due to very tight security coverage at site.

2. Proximity VS Security-Some PI says that the closer you are to the target’s residence, the better as you’ll get direct vision to the subject’s movement at site, however it should be noted that, the closer you are to the residence, the probability of your presence being compromised will be greater!! Whatever it is, it depends on a lot of factors and it also depends on the surveillance objectives. Usually, you’ll get the feel on the right distance when you are at site.

3. Cover and Concealment- There are many ways on applying cover and concealment in your static surveillance measure; we’ve had experience setting up a small tent at the top of small hill guarded by sulphur to avoid poisonous snakes and reptiles  in the course of observing movement at a dumping site located downhill. Many thanks to our telephoto lenses camera in this ops as without it, we might need to position ourselves near the smelly dumping site . However, if you are in a residential area, abandoned house facing subject’s residence will be a perfect stationary surveillance post but please make sure that it is truly empty as you don’t want to share it with drug addicts when it comes to the actual day of the surveillance operations.

4. The Rich are always nosy– Please bear mind that the richer the residents of a neighborhood are, the tougher it will be for you to set up your static observation post. Maybe it’s because that the rich people always feel insecure (Hope that this won’t offend the rich).You must anticipate that the security is tight, access control, CCTV coverage, latest alarm system, frequent security patrol, police visits and so on will be in place. So in this case, maybe the best option for you is to set up an indirect static surveillance post where you will at least keep the subject contained or boxed to a specific neighborhood or area. Your best bet is to sit on the most probable avenue of departure and wait for the subject to be on your sight when he/she leaves his/her residence so that you can shift to mobile surveillance mode.

5. The Sun is Not Your Friend- When you set up surveillance make sure you place a windshield sun shade across your front windshield. The sun shade decreases the amount of sunlight going into your vehicle, blocks passersby from seeing you in your vehicle and allows you to videotape your subject surreptitiously. But if you feel that it’s worth risking the police summon ticket, you can always put up an 80% tinted glass to your vehicle side screens.

6. The House at the End of the Street- Does the subject live in a cul-de-sac? That can be a problem. Neighbors in cul-de-sacs usually know each other and they certainly know each others vehicles. There’s only one way out of the cul-de-sac so your best bet is to set up at the other end of the street or on the cross street so that you can see the subject leave.

7. Points of Distinction-When you set up surveillance make sure you note any and all points of distinction about your subject’s vehicle. Aside from the license plate number, make note of body damage, bumper stickers, window stickers, tool chests, aerial antennae, custom paint jobs, etc. Once a rolling or mobile surveillance begins you can use what is distinctive about your subject’s vehicle to follow them in traffic. If the subject is driving a blue Proton Saga, you’ll find that the road is now littered with blue Proton Saga and you’ll need to differentiate between your subject’s vehicle and all the other ones.

PAK WAN