Surveillance is an Art

When conducting surveillance as a private investigator in Mississippi, you can increase your odds of success by following a few simple rules. The techniques used by Foster's Investigative Services have been upgraded through years of experience, enabling us to bring genuine results to our clients.  Let’s discuss a few of these practices.

Pre-Surveillance Research

One area that is often overlooked is pre-surveillance research.  To give yourself the best opportunity for success as a surveillance investigator, it is necessary to devote ample time to your research, as opposed to rushing through the details in your vehicle on your way to the assignment.  Here are some of the areas you should focus on while building information on your investigation’s target:

·Physical appearance: always obtain a photograph (multiple, if possible) and study the subject’s appearance. Try to identify something unique that sets them apart from other people (e.g. hair style, tattoos, etc.).  This will help you quickly differentiate your subject from others at the residence, such as a sibling or other family member that may appear similar.

·Identify all vehicles associated with the subject’s residence and run the license plates prior to beginning the assignment.  Databases such as TLO or IRB are very good at providing this information.  If you happen to live in a state that does not provide vehicle information to database vendors, check our last blog post to learn another method of obtaining vehicle information.

·Review all of the subject’s social media profiles: Most people tend to disseminate helpful information about themselves on various websites. This can help determine their habits and preferences concerning locations and regular schedules.

Obtaining these key details before beginning your surveillance assignment will make you less likely to lose your subject during mobile surveillance or follow the wrong person. At Foster's Investigative Services, we devote at least an hour to researching our subjects prior to embarking on assignments.  Depending on the location of the assignment, we also routinely drive by a subject’s residence during the days leading up to our surveillance to get a feel for the neighborhood and document which vehicles are present.

Surveillance Position

For any investigator in Mississippi, it is crucial to consider where to establish your vantage point. It is crucial to maintain discretion when deciding where to set up, or your case may end prematurely. At Foster's Investigative Services, we understand that every location requires a tailored approach.

Rural or tight-knit suburban neighborhoods: In these types of locations, we recommend setting up somewhere off the subject’s street.  By examining the subject’s residence in relation to their possible destinations of travel, find a public space (e.g. a business parking lot) along the egress route.  Position yourself so you can keep an eye out for the subject’s vehicle and be ready to engage in pursuit when you see them pass.  You can make periodic spot checks at the residence to monitor any activity taking place (e.g. the subject performing yard work, etc.) without attracting attention by parking within their comfort zone.  The photo below depicts a suburban neighborhood where I recently worked a case in Madison, MS.  In areas like this, I generally park outside of the immediate neighborhood.  With no other cars parked on the street, I would stick out like a sore thumb and likely be visited by the local police within a few hours on-site.

Very tight-knit neighborhood in Madison, MS.

Busy neighborhoods/urban environments: You can take a more aggressive position in areas where you are able to blend in with other vehicles in the neighborhood.  However, discretion still prevails. Parking at least five or six houses from the subject is recommended.  In the photo below, you can see a busy section of Chelsea, MA where I recently worked a case.  The environment allows for a more aggressive setup, but it is always a good idea to maintain distance from your target’s location.

Busy section of Chelsea, MA.

At Foster’s Investigative Services, we have learned to work in a discrete but effective manner.  Being overly aggressive at the outset of an investigation may attract unwanted attention, which can lead to the subject identifying your vehicle, having the police called to the location, or other unwanted complications.

Mobile Surveillance: Be Cautiously Aggressive

Tailing a subject is both about being confident and discrete simultaneously. At Foster's Investigative Services, we suggest following a few basic tactics:

·Maintain visual observation: Always stay close enough to maintain a view of the subject’s vehicle.  The moment they are out of sight, they can make turns or stops without your knowledge.

·Utilize the Blind Spot: Whenever following someone on the highway, if possible, try to stay one lane to their right.  This allows you to stay in their blind spot, and if they decide to exit, you won’t have to quickly change multiple lanes to follow them.

·Parking lots: If the subject pulls into a parking lot, you should choose to enter through another entrance as opposed to following directly behind them. Depending on the size of the business, it may also be possible to park in a lot next door in order to maintain discretion.

·React quickly in public spaces: If the subject arrives at a busy location, for example, a shopping center, you want to be more aggressive so you can quickly park and follow them on foot.  If the subject enters a mall, make sure you are not too far behind them.  If you are not able to see which direction they go once they get inside, you may not see them again until they return to their vehicle.

· Know when to cut your losses: If you are seeing signs that your subject may be wary of your vehicle, it is better to temporarily discontinue so you do not confirm their suspicions.  It is better to live to fight another day, possibly in a different vehicle, than to push your luck and wind up getting burned. 

At Foster's Investigative Services, we have learned through working thousands of surveillance cases.  Experience is the best teacher, and we have learned how to handle difficult situations through trial and error.  In the State of Mississippi, our surveillance skills are unmatched by our competitors. 

Obtain Quality Video

Video evidence can be the decisive factor in a case. Any professional investigator working in the State of Mississippi knows quality is always preferred over quantity. At Foster's Investigative Services, we prioritize high-quality documentation.  Here are some tips to make your video as presentable as possible:

·Use a tripod, monopod, or camera mount: The need to work in a stable environment cannot be overemphasized to avoid getting shaky video.  Shooting video by hand should only be done when it is absolutely necessary.

· Covert video: When obtaining video on foot, look for firm surfaces to rest your camera on when possible.  This is preferrable to holding the camera, which results in a lot of unpredictable movement.  You want your video to be as rock solid as possible.

·Utilize the landscape function: On your camcorder, use the landscape setting, which is a small symbol that looks like this:   This setting enables the camera to focus on objects in the background, thereby preventing it from focusing on things like your car window/windshield, rain drops, passing vehicles, or other objects that may come in between you and your subject.  It can be frustrating when your perfect shot is ruined because the camera decides to focus on a car that passes by in front of where your subject is working.

Foster's Investigative Services possesses modern equipment and knows the principles of video surveillance. Maintaining high documentation standards is a must if you want to have success as a surveillance investigator in the State of Mississippi.

Final Thoughts

To become a successful investigator in Mississippi, a great deal of preparation is necessary, including accurate placement of the surveillance vehicle, cautious trailing, and excellent videotaping. These techniques have been developed through our experience and commitment at Foster's Investigative Services. Regarding the best Mississippi investigator who can help your case, you should consider Foster's Investigative Services. There are few companies able to compete with us when it comes to surveillance. If you need a Mississippi investigator, we can get you results that make a difference.