Surveillance 102

• Types of Surveillance

Surveillance

• Surveillance is the secret observation of persons, places, or things as an investigative technique.
• Its purpose is to obtain information difficult or impossible to secure in any other manner.
• There are three main types of surveillance moving, stationary and technical.
• Moving surveillance (or tailing) occurs when a private detective follows the subject on foot or by vehicle.
• Fixed surveillance is when the private detective takes a stationary position and observes the subject.

Objectives

• The area of surveillance is one of the most important tools that can be used in an investigation.
• It is quite likely that no other facet of detective work is more amenable to improvement through practice than this one.
• Surveillance is not, nor should it be, regarded as a haphazard operation.
• Prior preparation and planning are essential since once the operation has commenced, opportunities to reorganize it are fairly impossible. (See ERM CH 111)
• We have a saying “Bad Start, Bad Finish

Objectives of Surveillance

• Obtain evidence.
• Obtain information concerning the nature and scope of the activities of a person.
• Locate a subject by observing his haunts and associates.
• Verify information that was developed during the investigation.
• Obtain information about activities in and around a particular place and to identify all entrants.

Preparation

• Prior to tailing, the surveillance team should be thoroughly briefed.
• The nature and background of the subject should be evaluated.
• The object of surveillance should be well established, and the possible contingencies which might arise should be thoroughly examined.
• The surveillance team should be familiar with the probable area of operations, and the transportation facilities serving these locations.
• Knowledge of public buildings, types of occupancy, and character of the population is of the utmost importance.
• Equipment that may be needed

Moving Surveillance

• There are three classes of moving surveillance or tailing: close, loose, and progressive.

Close Surveillance

• Close tailing is the following of a person with or without his knowledge.
• The main objective is to force the hand of the subject to try and make him panic and possibly reveal something.
• It is a form of psychological pressure.

Loose Tailing

• Loose tailing is the cautious following of a person so as not to be discovered.
• The tail should be suspended when it is reasonably assumed that the subject knows he is being followed.

Progressive Tailing

• Progressive Tailing is the following of a person, without his knowledge, in stages.
• For example, the first day, the tailer follows the subject from his home to the bus stop.
• The second day, a different tailer follows the subject from the bus stop to the subject's destination.
• The third day, another tailer follows the subject from his destination to wherever the subject goes next.

Moving Surveillance

• A moving surveillance operation should have a minimum of two men on the tailing team.
• A one-man tail is relatively ineffective.
• The main tailer should maintain contact with the rest of the tailing team.
• If a subject makes a stop, the main tailer should communicate with the tailing team about the subject's location.

If the Subject is lost

• When the subject is lost, the tailer should immediately notify the tailing team.
• It is often possible to second-guess the subject and reestablish contact.
• If the tailing team prepared for the surveillance properly, and knows the subject's home and business addresses, hobbies, habits of entertainment, associates, etcetera, then contact may be reestablished.

Distance to Subject

• A good general procedure to follow while tailing is to shorten the distance between the subject and you when the subject is in a crowded area or approaches a bus, train, or other means of transportation.
• When in sparsely occupied areas, the tailer should lengthen the distance between the subject and himself.

Foot Surveillance

• The most effective method for tailing a subject on foot is the XYZ Method.
• The surveillance team is made up of three people who for discussion purposes will be called X, Y, and Z. Tailer X follows the subject. Tailer Y follows Tailer X, and Tailer Z keeps abreast of the subject across the street.
• If the subject detects one of the tailers, a quick switch can then be made.

If Recognized

• If one of the tailers is recognized, that tailer should stay calm and perform some natural act to counter any suspicions the subject may have.
• Stop to light a cigarette or buy a newspaper, or start conversation with a passerby. The tailing team should never do anything that might attract the attention of the subject.
• Act as naturally as you can and avoid running, dodging, hiding, or any similar behavior.

Subways

• If the subject gets into a subway train or a bus, at least two of the tailers should get on also.
• The third man should avoid getting on and await notification from the other team members on the subject's location (by two-way radio or other prearranged type of communication.)
• While on the subway or bus, one tailer should sit in front of the subject, and the second should sit to the rear of the subject.

Leaving the Subway

• Do not rise when the subject rises.
• This could be a trick to see if he is being tailed. The tailing team should wait until subway or bus stops before rising.
• If it is at all possible, the tailing team should remain seated until the subject leaves the subway car or bus.

Elevators

• The subject might have occasion to enter an elevator.
• At least one member of the tailing team should enter the elevator and stand behind the subject.
• The tailer should exit with the subject.

Exiting the Elevator

• Should the subject observe you getting off with him, enter the nearest office.
• The tail can be picked up as he exits the building.
• If the subject enters an office and did not observe you, note the room number and name of the firm.

Restaurant or Business

• On occasion, a subject may enter a store or restaurant.
• The tailing team should keep their distance and act as natural as possible.

Automobile Surveillance

• Automobile surveillance is not as easy as it may appear.
• The tailers have to contend with many irregularities that could interrupt the surveillance.
• Unscheduled and frequent stops caused by traffic jams, traffic accidents, or traffic signals are just a few examples of these irregularities.

XYZ for Auto Surveillance

• The best method is the same one that was just described, the XYZ Method.
• In this method, Tailer X follows the subject and keeps out of the subject's sight.
• Good two-way radio communication between all three tailers is important so that each tailer knows the direction the subject is travelling and his location.

Parallel Surveillance

• Tailer Z should travel parallel to the subject and be ready to pick up the tail.
• Positions of the tailers can be changed at any time.
• This is a good procedure to follow, especially when you think that the subject might be aware that a car is following him.

Changing Positions

• For example, if Tailer X can communicate this to the other team members and change positions.
• Tailer X can pass the subject and make a turn that would take him away from the subject's route of travel.
• Tailer Y can move up and take Tailer X's position.
• Tailer X can work his way back and take up Tailer Y's former position.

Leap Frog Method

• Only two vehicles are used in this type of tail.
• The first tailer follows the subject and the second stays three blocks behind the first.
• When the command is given, via the two-way radio, the first tailer passes the subject's car and turns off while the second tailer takes the first tailer's place.
• The first tailer then makes his way back and assumes the second tailer's position.

Fixed Surveillance

• Fixed surveillance is the observation of persons, places, or things from a fixed base.
• The fixed base could be an apartment, house, store, or room.
• Observation should be conducted so as not to be noticeable from the outside. In most cases, binoculars or telescopes will be needed to view the subject matter.
• The setting up, or dismantling of the surveillance must be done in secrecy so that the surveillance activities will not be revealed to the subjects or neighbors.

Surveillance Logs

• Detailed and accurate notes should be kept throughout the surveillance.
• All observations should be recorded, no matter how insignificant they may seem.
• The notes will serve as the foundation for your formal report, as well as for briefing each tailing team on the subject's habits, contacts, and locations.

Undercover Operations

• An undercover operation requires the placement of a Investigator in a role or situation where the Investigators real identity is dropped.

Assuming your cover Identity

• He assumes an identity in keeping with the case, for the purpose of detecting violations of law, gather evidence for the prosecution of the criminals involved, and to recover items of thefts.
• Undercover operations are used in those cases where several individuals have been involved in an illegal activity over a period of time.

Types of Criminal Activity

• Black-marketing, counterfeiting, narcotics, fraud, and conspiracy are all good examples of cases that can be investigated using undercover operations.

Objective of U C work

• To obtain enough evidence to close the case.
• To identify all persons involved in the case.
• To ascertain the methods of the crime of incident, and to recover stolen items.

Your U C Persona

• Undercover should fit into the assignment. Above all, he should be resourceful and have initiative, energy, courage, and good judgment.

Must Fit In

• Remember that the investigator must have any necessary skills that will be required of him while serving in the undercover role.
• The same holds true with his education and socio-economic background.
• Similar consideration must be given to the operative's ethnic suitability, and religious background.

Building Your Cover

• A fictitious background for the undercover operative is prepared.
• The background should include name, address, schools attended, place of employment, friends, and so on.
• Arrangements should be made so that if anyone makes inquiries into the background of the undercover operative, the information then received will corroborate the information that is already known.

U C Needs to Fit the Part

• The undercover detective's personal possessions should also fit his character.
• This includes clothes, rings, money, vehicle, etcetera.
• Also included here are the personal tools used in the detective's undercover role.

Memorize your Cover Story

• It is important that the private detective must never carry any articles or credentials that might suggest his true identity.
• Lastly, the undercover detective should have his role and all related facts memorized.
• A check should be made before sending the detective out in the field.

Follow these Rules

• Avoid intoxicants lest the detective jeopardize the case or allow his true identity to become known.
• The undercover detective should not take notes while performing his role.
• He should memorize them while working and record them at a later time.
• If something has to be noted while on the job, be sure that you are alone when making notes.
• Use code so that it will not be easy to understand if overseen.

Don’t be to Self-important

• While in the undercover role, the detective should avoid bragging or claiming self-importance. This could make the suspect become suspicious.
• Avoid excessive spending. Spending should be in keeping with the role portrayed.
• The undercover detective must never reveal his identity.
• If arrested he must communicate with his superiors by prearranged means.

Remember:

• The undercover detective must not incite or create the commission of a crime with the intent to prosecute the subjects involved.
• This is called entrapment and also provides the accused with the convenient courtroom defense.