Surveillance 101
- Anti Terrorism Accreditation Board
- Emergency Response Manual
- Chapter 174
- Start Bad End Bad
- The importance of Pre Surveillance
The Reality of Surveillance
- Surveillance is one of best methods of obtaining information on a subject. Unfortunately, this is real life not Magnum PI. We can’t get away with chasing someone through down town Atlanta in a red sports car at 110 mph and not be noticed. A GOOD surveillance is one of the hardest task you will ever be assigned. However, we can make it a bit easier by following some basic time tested techniques.
Before you begin any surveillance you must keep in mind two things.
- First McNally’s law,
- and second the 5 P’s.
McNally’s law
- Murphy was an optimist.
- If there is any place that things will go wrong it is while you are on surveillance.
- You will experience everything from radio batteries dying, being hit by cars, shot at, lenses fogging over, attacked by dogs, Maced by old ladies, trucks parking in front of you just as your subject passes the drugs, being attacked by the neighborhood watch, your partner dropping a cigarette between his legs and setting the car on fire, someone jumping on your car, lightening strikes, car accidents, being pulled from your car and thrown on the ground by another police jurisdiction, your car battery going dead, falling asleep, and trees falling on you.
The 5 P’s, Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance.
- It is imperative that you begin any case but especially a surveillance by obtaining all available information and intelligence on the subject before you begin.
- We are not advising you to break the law in any way!
- This presentation is assuming that you have permissible purpose.
- We understand that there are many laws and regulations covering what information you are legally allowed to obtain.
- Private investigators do not have the authority to obtain some of the following information.
- You should attempt to ascertain as much information as you legally can.
You should start by running Criminal History
- You need to know as much about your subject as you can.
- You may be working a simple or civil case that should be low risk but if the subject is involved in other activities he may think that you are looking for him for the serious crimes.
- Two Fulton County Deputies were serving were dispatched to arrest an Imam Jamil Alamin. Thinking this was a peaceful religious leader they drove up in front of his house. The Imam came out with an AR 15 and Killed Deputy Ricky Kinshen and wounded his partner without saying a word to them.
- Imam Jamil Alamin real name was Hubert “Rap” Brown an original Black Panther.
Innocent Things Can Turn Bad
- As a Deputy I was dispatched to pick up a cook on a $24.50 bad check warrant.
- I went to the restaurant he worked at and was told he would be back at 3:00 pm.
- While having lunch near by and waiting on him to return we heard a radio call that a Red Dog (Atl. SWAT) officer had been shot while attempting to serve a murder warrant on our subject.
- The Subject opened fire on the officer when he walked in the door with no notice. He would not know that I had a simple misdemeanor warrant.
Run a Motor Vehicle Search
- You need to determine what vehicle's the subject owns so that you will recognize him if he leaves.
- You also need to ascertain the vehicle and identities of other living at the address in case he is using their vehicle.
Run individual with EPIC
- El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) currently involves the participation
of more than 20 agencies.
- Contacting EPIC could prevent you from disturbing an ongoing larger investigation.
Check Social Media Sites
- Checking sites like FACEBOOK can give you a wealth of information such as recent photos of subject, their friends, family, vehicle and most of all their frame of mind.
- If they have photos of weapons or ranting's about killing or gov. you may want to be careful.
- You may also find information that can be used to locate the person or to help you if you are running a pre text to obtain additional information.
Obtain photo’s of the subjects
- Pull their arrest records and copies of their mug shots.
- Check Google Images for current photos you may not recognize them from their mug shot.
- Social Media Sites for photos showing body art that may help you recognize the subject.
- Other surveillance photos
Locate the subjects residence
- Determine where the subject lives.
- Determine the number of access points there are so you will know how many men will be needed.
- Determine where you will be able to establish fixed location surveillance points without being observed.
- Don’t depend on GPS or electronics, keep a map book.
Locate the subjects place of employment
- Determine access and egress points from the facility.
- Determine normal work schedule.
- Determine if they have access to company vehicles.
- Determine all routes from business to know places they visit.
Locate the subjects girlfriend or boyfriend.
- You need to determine if they have a relationship out side of their marriage.
- If having an affair with another especially if it is of the same sex they may try very hard to hide the relationship.
Known hangouts
- Know where the places that they like to frequent.
- What type of entertainment they enjoy.
- Knowing these things will help you locate the subject if you loose them.
- Most people are creatures of habit and will go to places they are familiar with and feel comfortable.
- It should be noted that when going to a place they would not like to be seen will increase their awareness of being followed.
Recon Places of Frequent Stops
- Once you have obtained the addresses for the above locations you need to acquire a current map and check all possible routes and exits.
- Then drive the area at a time when the subject is not likely to be near.
- You need to look at the area to insure that there are no exits or avenues of egress that are not on the map.
- Are there exits from one business to another.
Warrants
- If you feel that you may need a warrant for either search or arrest be sure you have it with you.
- Communicate with the DA’s office and DA’s Investigators if needed.
Have a reason to be in the area
- Always have a story to tell someone that stops you.
- Carry Props, hard hat etc.
- Real Estate is a good cover. Appraiser, inspector, waiting on relator.
- Many times I have went to the door of a house where I am parked and asked if they have seen a relator from Re/Max just to explain to them that I am waiting on someone rather than them calling the police or block patrol.
- Call the dispatcher and advise them that you have a surveillance running so they do not send a unit that will pull up behind you with their Blue lights on and draw attention to you.
Surveillance Packets
- Now that you have these things out of the way you can start putting together your surveillance packets. A surveillance packet should be prepared for all investigators involved with at least two additional packets on hand to be used by any additional personnel that may be assigned.
The packets should contain the following information:
- 1 An overview and purpose of the investigation, with directions on what the team is attempting to accomplish, photo’s of the subject with a known criminal, committing a crime, stalking someone etc.
- 2 Photo’s of the Subject
- 3 Photo’s of the Subjects Vehicle
- 4 Photo’s of the Subjects Residence
- 5 Photo’s of the Subjects place of Employment and information on where he parks
- 6 Photo’s of known stops or locations the subject frequents
- 7 Map of the target areas of your surveillance
- 8 Directions of known or probable routs used by the subject
- 9 “ATLAS” list of the subjects neighbors
- 10 Photos of girlfriends or know associates
- 11 Information sheet to include addresses, phone numbers and known associates
- 12 Reason for being in the area.
- Surveillance Equipment will be covered in Module 112