What Is Surveillance?
Surveillance is the close observation of a person, place, or object. It is the practice of watching a subject in order to document the interactions or whereabouts of the subject.
When Is Surveillance Used?
- Missing person searches
- Cheating spouse investigations
- Recurrent theft
- Worker’s compensation cases
- Vandalism
- Fraud Investigations
- Criminal Investigations
Common Types of Surveillance
There are a variety of ways to carry out surveillance, including the use of electronics, physical observation, conducting interviews, and using technology.
Electronic Surveillance
Electronic Surveillance is the type of documentation private investigators most often use. It involves utilizing devices like television, wiretapping, and radios to document activity. It also includes monitoring an individual’s use of their phones, email, and social media.
Physical Observation
Physical Observation is when investigators physically follow or watch a subject. This can potentially involve disguises, stakeouts, and multiple investigators.
Interviews
Interviews are conducted by investigators to discover as much information as possible about the subject. The people interviewed could include family members, neighbors, friends, or coworkers.
Technical Surveillance
Technical Surveillance encompasses digital photography and video/audio recordings. Examples of these are surveillance cameras used by businesses and dash cameras used by both police officers and private investigators.
Why Conduct Surveillance?
There are a variety of reasons, from investigating crime to locating an individual, to conduct a surveillance investigation.
- To prevent crime
- For obtain evidence of a crime
- Getting evidence in civil suits
- documentation of an individual’s location
- when document activities in/around a location
- Use information for interrogation purposes
- Authentic information to be used in court.
