Surveillance Tactics for Private Investigators

Surveillance is an integral part of private investigations. Many private investigators are hired simply as surveillance experts by clients who don't want third parties to know that they've hired an investigator.

A private investigator who cannot properly conduct a surveillance operation is useless in the field. Many private investigators may not even realize how bad they are at surveillance until someone points it out to them.

The following is a list of a few simple tactics that private investigators can use to avoid being noticed in order to get the most accurate results for their clients:

1. Remember your patterns. The amount of times that you visit a certain area will be noted by those who know that you don't belong. Many private investigators think that sitting at a bus stop is a clever form of disguise, but few notice how often the same bus passes them. While the investigator may not notice this, the subject of the investigation very may well. Why would someone sit all day at a bus stop without getting on a bus? The same goes for any form of surveillance. Don't repeat the same tactics at a rate that will get you noticed. Spread out your surveillance. In some cases, walking away for a couple of days will help the investigator maintain his anonymity.

2. Walk the dog. Have you ever really given a second glance to some guy walking his dog? A dog can be a great way to divert attention away from the person walking it. When you walk past a person walking their dog, do you look at their face or down at the dog as they pass? Something to consider.

3. Leave the cop car at home. We all know what the "cop car" is. It's any model of car that could be confused for a cop car from a distance. Whether or not these cars are ethical or even legal is a matter for debate, but the amount of attention they grab is not. Crown Victorias, Dodge Chargers, and Chevy Impalas are classic examples of what cars to avoid. I recommend any car similar to a Honda Civic in style. They are common enough not to grab any attention and reliable enough to last you on the road. If you think that nobody will see you from your retired cop car, just think of all the times you've slowed down because you thought the Crown Victoria up ahead was a cop car. Now try to remember what you did as you passed the car...did you turn for a second look to verify that it was in fact not a cop car? If you're capable of taking a second look, so is the subject of your investigation.

4. Avoid personalized plates. Your Honda Civic is pointless if both plates say "PVT-EYE" on them.

5. Use business cards sparingly. I know what every private investigator is thinking, business cards are a simple and powerful marketing tool, but they can also attract attention to your investigation when you aren't even working. Should the subject of your investigation stumble across a business card in a purse or the creases of a couch, your whole investigation may be ruined. As long as the subject thinks that you're on his tail, he's going to be on the up and up. One investigator I knew refused to hand out business cards and opted for torn off pieces of paper with his first name and number on them. This allowed the person he was handing the card to a way to remember his name without giving away who he was or what he was doing. It also allows the person who takes your number to make up some sort of cover story about who the person on the paper actually is. Another good way around this is to just ask that the person taking your number put it directly in their phone. These days everybody seems to be carrying a cell phone. There isn't a cell phone on the market today that doesn't allow numbers to be stored for later.

6. Don't flash the goods. If you carry a concealed weapon, keep it concealed. It's for your protection, not to gain cooperation. If you carry an ID wallet and badge, keep that in your pocket unless asked to present it. Simply introducing yourself as a private investigator with a smile is enough for people to answer your questions. Just be courteous and remember to say "yes, sir", "no, ma'am", "please", and "thank you". If a person asks to see your credentials, only present what you are authorized to present. If your state has outlawed the use of badges by private investigators, then don't flash a badge. If your state does not regulate private investigators, invest in a professional membership organization that provides identification cards to its members. If that option is not available, do-it-yourself identification cards are available for sale on the Internet.

7. Let the cops know where you are. This will prevent any cops on patrol from stopping to ask you why you're loitering. In most cases they'll leave you alone if you can identify yourself and explain that you are working, but by that time everybody has already rubbernecked to find out what was going on. A quick call to the local police dispatch center will prevent any unnecessary and attention getting contact with the police. Remember to be polite and respectful anytime contact with the authorities is made.

8. Avoid following the car. In some cases this may be necessary, but it's distracting on busy roads and too easy for the subject to spot you in the rearview. If you have to conduct moving surveillance just remember to stay a few cars away from your subject. An even better solution is through the use of vehicle tracking technology. Check local laws and requirements before attaching any sort of tracking equipment to anything that you do not own.

These are just a few ways to increase the opportunity for success while conducting surveillance operations. It is important to keep in mind that the private investigator must separate his professional self from his surveillance self. The professional self is what he sells to the public as a businessman offering a service. This self should be professional, clean shaven, and neatly dressed. The surveillance self is what the investigator sells to the public in order to go unnoticed. This self may be unkempt or dirty, if he is even seen at all. The surveillance operation will dictate how the investigator will decide how to disguise his surveillance self.