SURVEILLANCE
OPERATIONS
Surveillance is best described as "the art of observing without
the subject of the observation having knowledge of the scrutiny".
This is easy to say but at times extremely challenging to accomplish
with a satisfactory result.
Our surveillance operations have included such processes as:
- Flying to Dallas TX on the same plane as our subject of investigation
- Registering in the same hotel as the subject
- Being aware of the subjects’ activities over a three day period
- Flying back on the same plane as the subject
On a daily basis we do surveillance using a variety of vehicles,
as well as high powered video cameras for both day and night
operations. Conducting surveillance at odd times during the evening
and weekends is one of the reasons we have been successful in
insurance injury claims.
Blending in with the local landscape, keeping a low profile,
and having a keen awareness of neighbors are all-important parts
of any surveillance operations. Having a full size car and being
the only occupant when out on operations will most certainly
arouse suspicion. Using a truck or a smaller car will usually
alleviate suspicion especially if the vehicle is not too clean.
At times, in order not to raise suspicion, an investigator will
be forced to to let the subject go and try picking them up later
or even the next day. Spending a short time period in a
neighborhood
is a much better technique than spending an entire day.
All of this knowledge was necessary when conducting surveillance
in Cuba over a seven-day period. Surveillance is the same no
matter where you are or who the subject is but in Cuba this was
particularly challenging. The operating conditions were fraught
with government people, police, military and locals who watched
every city block of the area in which our investigator was working.
After seven days of intensive work, our investigator was able
to get all the video needed and get back to Calgary. Any mistakes
made during that investigation would have had extremely dire
consequences. We also have a full array of hidden cameras
and recording devices which are completely up to date.
