In the news lately, the word surveillance has a negative connotation due to accusations of its misuse by government and big business. A majority of private investigators perform surveillance on a regular basis and are called surveillance investigators or surveillance specialists.
Surveillance involves gathering evidence on a subject in a covert manner so that the surveillance investigator is not discovered, potentially damaging the chances of solving the case. While on surveillance, private investigators use different techniques to remain unnoticed, not only by the subject, but the general public, who may call law enforcement when they see an individual acting in a suspicious manner.
Trained investigators or surveillance specialists, use this skill to collect information and provide the court evidence of wrong doing, the kind of evidence that will stand up in court.
Additionally, the definition of surveillance is the monitoring or observation of behavior, activities and people for the purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or protecting them. Ideally, a surveillance investigator wants to follow their subjects at a discreet distance.
In quiet areas, back roads, late at night, small towns, cul-de-sacs, parks and other low traffic areas, surveillance is maintained at a greater distance. In busy areas, downtown metropolitan cities, shopping malls, restaurants, commercial buildings, and public events, surveillance is maintained at a shorter distance keeping the subject insight at all times. If the subject turns around, walked past them, look in a shop window or pretend to make a phone call.
