Performing Stationary Surveillance as a Private Investigator

The feeling of being left in the dark is at times disheartening and can quickly lead to a sense of uneasiness. It is almost a natural instinct to to try and find out our critical unknowns. Through observation and surveillance, life's mysteries and missing links can often reveal themselves. For a private investigator performing stationary surveillance is not only a part of the job but huge reason why they can successfully solve cases for clients.

There are many situations that call for performing stationary surveillance including marital, domestic, civil, criminal and corporate surveillance. Sometimes it is simply not enough to Google a name or to take someone's word in trust and we must go above and beyond to find out the truth. In a lot of the more advanced, intricate and obscure investigative issues, stationary surveillance can be a key piece to puzzle. Used as evidence, proof, leverage and documentation, stationary surveillance is a powerful tool in the investigative world. In order to get a better understanding of how secretly spying on people can greatly enhance a private investigators chances of catching the culprit or finding the facts, we must learn about the equipment being used and and the methods that are being manicured and manifested.

When it comes to performing stationary surveillance as a private investigator a lot of the edge over the prey will come from the technology and equipment that is being used. Common tools used in still surveillance include access control systems, anti-terrorist products, detection devices, digital video recorders, DVR based hidden cameras, listening equipment, personal protection guards, wired and wireless cameras and undercover vehicles.

Stationary surveillance advantages are derived a lot from the fact that the target does not know you are watching them. You never want to get discovered or "made" as they call it in the business. Savvy equipment use and technical product know how can really keep you disguised, while still allowing you to get close enough to the subject during a standing stakeout. Even equipment oddities and accessories like rock hidden cameras, weatherproof electrical box recorders, bird house listening devices, motion detector sensors and hidden mirror alarms all can add to your stationary surveillance superpowers. As amazing as your gadgets may be, every private investigator knows that equipment is only half the surveillance battle, with execution and methodology filling in the rest of the equation.

Performing stationary surveillance as a private investigator can be performed in a number of manners. There is physical surveillance, electronic surveillance and tracking surveillance. Stationary surveillance does not simply boil down to sitting in an indiscreet car with a pair of binoculars, a cup of coffee and a few donuts. Nowadays a private investigator conducting a stationary surveillance must be creative and imaginative. Surveillance is such a complex subject there are even experts in technical surveillance counter-measures (TSCM) where the layers and levels of investigation become even more intricate.

A private investigator performing stationary surveillance must remain on his toes, eyes and ears at all times. You must consider all the methods, strategies and techniques of surveillance like computer surveillance, telephone surveillance, camera surveillance, social network analysis surveillance, biometric surveillance, aerial surveillance, data mining & profiling surveillance, human operatives surveillance, satellite imagery surveillance, RFID & geolocation surveillance, global positioning system (GPS) surveillance and mail service surveillance to take your stationary surveillance tactics to new heights. Performing stationary surveillance for a private investigator includes all types of variables such as time, location, technology and temperament and it is largely how you approach the changing circumstances that determines your surveillance success.

Any number of private investigative scenarios such as a cheating spouse, domestic indiscretion,
infidelity, matrimony mischief, child custody, teen tracking, fraud, worker compensation, insurance scams and employment verification can call for stationary surveillance. If you want to become the next Allan Pinkerton, Vincent Parco, Joe Gores, Eugène François Vidocq or Anthony Pellicano, surveillance will need to become a large part of your investigative repertoire. Every great private eye understands the importance and delicacies of spying on and watching people without notice.

Stationary surveillance like a lot of the facets and characteristics of private investigation is art, is arduous and is aplomb. The best private investigators are confident and composed when it comes to surveillance. They know how to plan and always prepare for the worst possible outcomes and obstacles. Performing stationary surveillance can be a sticky proposition so make sure you have your hidden ducks in order. There is little room for error during surveillance stings so it is all about minimizing mistakes. Take your time, do your homework and take surveillance seriously and you should be well on your way to graduating at the head of your class as a top tier P.I. and landing those high profile and lucrative clients we all so crave.