Sting Investigations - Private Investigative Issues

Perfect surveillance vehicle

There are three traits that are most important in a surveillance vehicle.

#1. Boring

A interesting vehicle is a noticed vehicle.

#2. Reliable

I have heard of investigators not showing up to the surveillance and using the excuse that their vehicle broke down, or wouldn't start.

#3. Versatile

Must be able to fit in, in any neighborhood. Rich, poor, middle class, city or country.

There is are several vehicles that fits the above description to the t.

Bet you thought I was going to tell you what we use ;)

Surveillance

On surveillance. Camera recording to catch what might happen. In a residential neighborhood. People in yards going about there lives, unaware of my existance. I am as good as, invisible. A fly on the wall, so to speak.

Posted from my Blackberry.

Who cheats more?

Question:

Who cheats more?  Woman or men?

Answer:

From our experience we find that men and woman cheat equally.  Usually when someone married is cheating, they will cheat with another married person. 

Video or photos in the rain

As a private investigator that specializes in surveillance, I face certain challenges on a regular basis.  Our detective agency has came up with ways to deal with these situations.  One such issue is shooting video through a rain soaked window.

You can not shoot good video through a rain soaked window, with a cheap camcorder.

The problem with cheap camcorders is that they do not have a good manual focus.  They may have a manual focus that you access through menus, but that is not acceptable when video needs to be obtained quickly.  In regards to camcorders, under $2,000 is what I mean by cheap.  A cheap camcorder is great for non professional applications such as video of the family.  But not for surveillance.

The camcorder we use is the Sony VX2100.  You can do a search for it on Google.  It features a manual focus ring.  I have gotten video through windows so soaked with rain, that I could not see through them with out the use of the camcorder.  The Sony VX2100 can be purchased from Sony directly at www.sonystyle.com  for $2,999.00.  I recommend the zoom lens as well for an additional $400.00 

Another tip for getting video through window in the rain, is to shoot the video through the side window of your vehicle.  Because of the angles of those windows, rain water doesn't stay on them like it usually does the front or rear window.

I strongly recommend asking a private investigator you are hiring, what type of camcorder they use.  Ask the model #.  If they don't know, that is a bad sign.  If they give you a model, research the camcorder online.  Professional equipment will make the difference between video you can use in court, or sometimes not getting video at all.   

Video or still images?

Question:

Should and investigator take photographs or video?

Answer:

If the investigator is trying to document something that is not moving, photos are usually best.  The reason is that resolution on a picture will be higher than that of video.  Photos are great for inanimate objects such as cars, or houses.

If the investigator is trying to document something like a kiss or anything else that happens quickly (or is moving), video is better.  Video is better because it is essentially 30 pictures taken every second.  Therefore you don't miss the most important frame of action.  Still images can also be taken from a video.

You can not get video from a photo.  Therefore, video is better for situations where there is action.