Spy Gear
''This article is intended for informational purposes. Please be responsible and check the applicable laws in your location before you purchase/use any of these products.''
As a former
privacy laws in your area.
Covert-Cams, Pinhole Cameras, and Nanny Cams
At its simplest form, all a surveillance investigator needs to be effective is a
tinted windows. Unfortunately, no one can fully predict the behavior of a subject and there have been dozens of times when people have entered places where bringing a camera would have aroused suspicion. When it comes to insurance fraud cases, the best footage comes from when the subject is out and about, moving comfortably despite what they've claimed to a doctor. In those times, covert cameras come in handy.
A covert camera is any very small camera disguised to look like something else. They can be a wide variety of objects, from
fake dog droppings and leave them in a subject's yard. It provided him with hours of footage.
Pinhole cameras are tiny cameras sewn into backpacks or pieces of clothing, allowing the investigator to blend in without carrying equipment. Covert cameras allow an investigator to get very close to the target with minimal difficulty. However, covert cams are very easy to dislodge. Make sure the camera is secure and make sure you're familiar with its range and depth of vision.
Surveillance Basics
* Be a gray man in a gray car. The second you stand out, you've failed.
* Never. Stop. Paying. Attention. Surveillance gets very, very boring after awhile. The subject always seems to become mobile the second you're not paying attention.
* Know your equipment. Before taking anything out into the field, practice with it over and over again. How long does the battery last? How strong is the resolution? EXACTLY where do you have to hold the lens in order to get a clear picture?
* Have extra parts for everything. Bring extra batteries for your camera, bring extra memory cards for everything. Never have too little of something.
* Don't do anything illegal. If you do, don't get caught.
* Your fixed surveillance point should be at least four houses away, with a clear view of the front area.
* When mobile, try to keep one car between you and the subject.
* Have several different outfits and changes of clothing ready. Gym clothes will make you stand out if the subject goes into a nice restaurant. Pretext props (fake placards, official-looking equipment) is also invaluable. Also, bring an overnight bag.
* Have a pretext ready if you're confronted by anyone. Wherever you are, have a reason for being there.
* Your cell phone is your best friend. It relays information to your fellow investigators, you can call in phone-pretexts on a subject, it allows you to take sneaky pictures of the subject, and it provides you cover in public places. People generally leave anyone on a cell phone alone. Having said that, always keep it on silent. You really don't want it going off if you're sneaking on someone's property.
* If it's a fresh surveillance, get to the site very early. You can root through their trash and mail long before anyone gets up. As you learn the subject's schedule, you can adjust accordingly.
* If they start acting erratically, you've likely been discovered, known in investigator parlance as being "burned." Back off and send out another investigator in a different car a couple weeks later.
* Be safe.
Top Sellers
Related Guides
*
Camcorders
*
Digital Camcorders
*
Walkie Talkies
*
Surveillance Equipment
*
Laptop Computers
