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There are several obstacles that investigators all over the world experience while conducting surveillance. These obstacles usually can be overcome first by using experienced investigators, and second, by utilizing the new technology available today.

Many of these obstacles can also be overcome by using an investigative company that uses only seasoned investigators and provides them with full-time office support.

The biggest obstacle is not enough information on the subject.

The investigator needs to know as much about the subject as possible. Every piece of information helps the investigator identify the current location of the subject, e.g. name, social security number, date of birth, last known address, place and nature of employment, children and their schools, etc. The more information the investigator has on the subject, the less amount of time will be spent trying to locate, and more time will be spent on surveillance. A photograph of the subject is always a bonus to the investigator.

If the subject has any scheduled appointments coming up, the investigator should be aware of them. If the investigator knows where the subject will be, (s)he has a better chance of acquiring video and less chance of being “burned’ (identified by the subject as an investigator following the subject).

Once the subject is located, the most common problem is loosing the subject in traffic, be it a traffic control device, pedestrians, a subject who disregards the speed limit, or even the weather. There are a few ways to get around all of the above listed obstacles. One way would be to use a two-person team. This is especially helpful if the subject may be aware of surveillance. The second, and in my opinion the best way to get around the obstacles is to utilize a Global Positioning System or vehicle tracking device. This way the investigator can stay as far back as possible and know exactly where your subject is, how fast (s)he is driving, when, where, and for how long (s)he stops. (This of course will only work if the investigator has wireless Internet access on his/her portable computer or office support to relay information.)

The second biggest obstacle is a “Gated Community”.

Here an investigator usually will not be able to see the subject’s residence and will have to wait until the subject exits the compound. The investigator, if experienced, can usually come up with a way to get through the security at the gate and conduct a drive-by of the residence. However in most cases the investigator can’t sit on the street without raising suspicion and possibly getting burned. In these situations I believe it best to conduct surveillance on a day that the subject has a known scheduled appointment.

We have experienced several cases where a client orders surveillance on a subject who lives in a gated community. Many times the subject never left their residence and the surveillance was unsuccessful. Then the client would call a week later to order surveillance on the subject because the subject had a scheduled appointment coming up.