| It is very common within the private investigation | | | | within that is your sixth sense getting information |
| industry to refer to surveillance as part art and part | | | | from sources beyond the normal. I was working a |
| science. Some even state the longer one does it he | | | | corporate case locally in New Jersey trying to acquire |
| she can become an alchemist and transforms it from | | | | a positive ID on a subject for a client who had been |
| the science into the art at a highly developed level, | | | | scammed a significant amount of money through an |
| well I modified that statement a little to get my point | | | | elaborate fraud scheme. I stakeout the subject's |
| across. Surveillance art and its esoteric components | | | | house for six hours with no activity, I made a call to |
| will be addressed and surveillance science and its | | | | his residence, I received his answering machine and |
| exoteric components will be addressed in the next | | | | there were no vehicles parked in the driveway or |
| article. | | | | nearby. |
| Surveillance can be defined as the continuous | | | | I had no idea of his schedule, but had a deep feeling |
| watching (overtly or covertly) of persons, vehicles, | | | | he was home. This case was a one man surveillance |
| places or objects to obtain information concerning | | | | restricted by the budgetary restraints of the client so |
| the activities and identities of individuals. To achieve | | | | I had to think on my feet. I approached the subject's |
| the successful objective of obtaining information the | | | | residence, parked my vehicle, positioned my |
| operative whether law enforcement personnel or | | | | camcorder through the passenger side door of |
| private investigator utilizes intuition, street savvy, | | | | vehicle, turned it on and proceeded to the front door |
| equipment and pre surveillance information. Being a | | | | of his residence. I knocked and moved to the left to |
| private investigator for Peace of Mind Private | | | | allow the camcorder to capture the potential meeting. |
| Investigators, that specializes in surveillance and | | | | He opened the door and asked how he could help |
| former law enforcement officer gives me a | | | | me. I stated that my car had broken down and I |
| perspective on how surveillance applies in both | | | | was waiting to be picked up and considered it |
| contexts. However, its applicability to the private | | | | prudent to notify the occupants of his residence |
| investigation industry will be explored and emphasized. | | | | because my vehicle would have to remain in front of |
| The most important equipment a private investigator | | | | his house until the following day when I would return |
| has available during the course of conducting | | | | to retrieve it. He said okay, while everything was |
| surveillance is his mind and its esoteric components. | | | | captured on videotape. I returned to my car and |
| The pre-surveillance information may indicated that | | | | uploaded the video to my client who positively |
| the an insurance benefits claimant maybe working | | | | identified the subject and will be pursuing legal actions |
| and leaves for work at 7:30 a.m., but if your intuition | | | | against him. How did I know he was at home? I had |
| tells you that the day of surveillance he will be leaving | | | | a hunch, a gut feeling, intuition. Herein manifests the |
| at 6:30 a.m. follow it and be on site one hour earlier. | | | | art of surveillance, the intangible component that |
| There is no tangible reconnaissance information for | | | | cannot be learned from a book or course, but must |
| the earlier start, but a successful surveillance | | | | be developed by the surveillance investigator out in |
| assignment is dependent on more than tangible | | | | the field doing his craft. The art is being able to think |
| components. You can have the best camcorder, | | | | on your feet, trusting your intuition, adapting to the |
| digital camera, surveillance vehicle modified to be non | | | | case requirements, using unorthodox methods if |
| descript, excellent pre surveillance data on subject, | | | | necessary, but staying within the parameters of the |
| but the intuition of the investigator about where to | | | | law. The more one develops in proficiency, it is |
| set up for surveillance, when to back off when | | | | poetry in motion, living in the moment transcending |
| following a subject, is subject going to leave earlier, | | | | the actual surveillance and tapping into faculties that |
| etc., becomes an innate attribute that develops with | | | | can be applied to all aspects of life. |
| time if the investigator listens to that intuitive voice | | | | |