Webster defines surveillance as a close kept watch over someone or something. While this is true, to conduct surveillance without being seen or burnt is an art.
Imagery such as French coats and fedoras makes us think of memorable detectives such as Bogey or Mike Hammer. Today cargo shorts and a baseball cap can be the dress code. A private investigator needs to hide in plain sight and that takes a lot of experience to perfect. Today, TV makes it look so easy to watch someone and never have anyone take notice. A lot of clients tell me that they should have been an investigator. I suppose they think it’s intriguing and somehow exciting. My response is “everyone wants to wear the hat but few really want to ride the bull”.
Have you ever watched a door or a car in a parking lot for six to eight hours in one sitting? Have you ever tried to follow a car in today’s traffic? What is the longest you have ever sat in an automobile? Over twenty hours? Keep in mind what you are waiting to see could only occur for a few seconds so you cannot leave the scene or stop watching until it happens. I will admit because of technology the job is much easier than it was twenty years ago, but that’s another blog in itself. The key to being a very good investigator requires experience. You need to know when you are too close or too far away from your target, what needs to documented and videoed, when should you not take chances and then again when you should. And remember, everything you do may require court testimony. Experience has taught me to be an expert witness. I have seen very good private investigations ruined with shoddy testimony.
