Philadelphia Private Investigator

Surveillance: It's Not Like Television

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

 

SURVEILLANCE – PART III

I discussed misconceptions people have regarding surveillance in Part I, and preparation in Part II. Now let me explain the realities that investigators face when conducting surveillance investigations.

Television is dominated with police shows, and often the average person believes that whatever they see being played out on television holds true in a real life situation. Some programs also feature private investigators, and although the exciting lifestyle portrayed is entertaining and appealing, it speaks very little to what actually takes place during surveillance, or any investigation for that matter.

There are the reality shows that follow patrol officers and detectives such as the more popular programs like COPS that shadows police officers on patrol, and The First 48 that travel with homicide detectives during the most crucial time of the investigation. One program that specifically deals with private detectives and cheating spouses or mates is the show Cheaters. If you've ever noticed they use multiple detectives to conduct their investigations. Of course, the added personnel are for the confrontation which we don't engage in.  While these programs are real, they are also edited to fit an hour time slot, which really doesn’t give the viewer a true picture of what takes place behind the scenes. As a police officer I worked in patrol for half of my career, and investigated dozens of homicides as part of my duties in the detective division during the balance of my time on the job. When I retired and became a private investigator, I learned quickly that surveillance in law enforcement is much less challenging than in the private sector.   

When police conduct surveillance on a target they typically use teams of no less than two officers, but most likely more. I’ve been on surveillance teams with just two people, and many times a team of 6 or more depending on the nature of the investigation. The FBI has special surveillance squads that use a minimum number of operators and high tech equipment, lets just say the number is a sufficient amount that would be ideal for surveillance details in all of law enforcement and the private sector. Granted, often times the police are following high value criminal targets, and must take into consideration the officer safety factor.  

In the private investigations industry most surveillance details are conducted using one person. Whether it’s a workers’ compensation or cheating spouse investigation, cost is always the bottom line. I’m not saying surveillance can’t be done with only one person, and for the most part private investigators can adapt and be very effective, but having more than one investigator dramatically decreases the chance of loosing a target, or drawing attention to the detail. 

No matter how experienced the private investigator is, following someone poses many potential hazards and challenges due to weather, traffic and other logistical considerations, and of course, observance of vehicle laws. While some investigators might employ the use of a GPS device on the target’s vehicle, this method may not always be feasible depending on the circumstances and individual state laws regarding the use of such devices. Additionally, functionality can be an issue. Technology has come along way, but is evolving at a pace greater than the laws that govern it. 

Many other considerations play a role in surveillance such as identification of target, pedestrians, trespassing, concealment, location, court orders, target’s driving habits, condition of roadway, construction, distance traveled, day the week, time of the day, vehicle, equipment, etc. You can be the best surveillance agent in town, but get behind one school bus and a whole days work can go up in a cloud of diesel fumes in just a matter of seconds. 

The point I’m trying to stress is that an investigator cannot predict the movement of a target, or many of the conditions developing while conducting the surveillance. 

It is important to know upfront that surveillance can, and in most cases, be extremely effective but has its’ limitations like anything else. When considering the use of surveillance, don’t have unrealistic expectations, and understand there are no guarantees. Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC, takes careful steps in planning your surveillance request whether it deals with a cheating spouse, workers’ compensation, non-compete, or any other type of investigation. We enjoy great success and are always exploring ways to further maximize our surveillance techniques.  

One request that comes up often is for the installation of audio recording equipment. We DO NOT use audio recording devices during any investigation because it is a violation of  state law, specifically the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act. This type of investigation is reserved strictly for law enforcement use in the furtherance of uncovering criminal activity, and requires a court order. 

Jeff Reichart

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

 

Pre-surveillance preparation.

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC.

 

SURVEILLANCE - PART II

Following someone takes a combination of planning, background information, patience, skill, proper equipment, and just plain old luck. This article is a brief overview on planning and background.

When a private investigator prepares to conduct surveillance, it is important for them to have all the information available on the target to have the best chance of being able to make the surveillance effective. Descriptions and accompanying photos of the target, vehicles and associates (if possible), along with information regarding the target’s phone number, social networking pages, routine, habits, and frequented locations are necessary to provide the investigator so they can plan the investigation accordingly. Having the right amount of background information on the target is extremely important. If you are considering the services of a private investigator, be prepared to furnish all the information you can. This is part of the pre-surveillance stage. 

Most times when surveillance is requested for workers’ compensation and insurance fraud cases, the client is an insurance company, third party administrator, self-insured, or attorney representing those just mentioned, and they generally provide the private investigator with all the necessary information on a target to conduct a proper surveillance; However, 

Individuals that are using a private investigator for the first time such as in cheating spouse investigations, usually aren’t prepared upfront to give an investigator all the available information on the target. During the initial consultation an investigator will ask you for certain information to help them determine how to go about conducting the requested surveillance. If you are prepared at the onset, it saves time and costs in getting started. Gather as much information possible prior to contacting the private investigator, and this will help them understand what resources are needed to begin the investigation and provide estimated costs. 

The private investigator may need to conduct online database or social network research, interviews, and other types on information gathering techniques prior to actually conducting surveillance. Taking all the known details about the target into consideration will assist the investigator in determining which methods and equipment will work best in the specific surroundings when conducting the surveillance. 

Keep an eye out for more surveillance articles to be published on this blog. 

Jeff Reichart, President

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

Surveillance using Private Investigators.

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC. 

 

SURVEILLANCE - PART I

Surveillance is a tricky business. Most people that request it don’t fully understand the dynamics involved including the risks. There are several different variables to consider when a private investigator conducts surveillance. 

The most important thing to understand is there are no guarantees on the outcome!

Entities that routinely use surveillance investigators such as insurance companies, attorneys, self-insured, third party administrators, corporations, etc., generally understand that the surveillance target is not always going to be captured in photographs or video doing something they shouldn’t be, or even located; however,

Prospective clients calling a private investigator to conduct cheating spouse, child custody, or any other type of domestic related surveillance investigations usually have misconceptions that the target is going to be caught “in the act,” and it’s going to happen right away. Many times a client will call and ask: “How long does it usually take you to catch someone?” I always tell people there is no way to predict a time frame, or even if the target will do anything wrong. We might catch someone involved in infidelity or child neglect the first night out, or we might not catch them doing anything wrong after a lengthy period of surveillance over several days or weeks. 

If a private investigator guarantees that they will not loose a target and “catch them in the act” then you might want to consider looking for another agency that knows these can be unrealistic expectations. I’ve seen private investigator websites that advertise they never loose people, and get the evidence you need. A professional investigator will tell you up front they won’t know what they’re going to discover, if anything, until they actually begin the investigation. 

Many surveillance investigations will uncover evidence of wrongdoing, and some will not turn up anything. Experienced private investigators employ different methods, techniques, technology, and use good instincts when conducting surveillance, but there is always the chance that the results you were looking for will not materialize, which doesn’t necessarily mean the investigation wasn’t successful. 

I will be posting a series of articles regarding surveillance to help you have a better understanding of what private investigators are up against when conducting these types on investigations.

 

Jeff Reichart, President

Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

Agency Growth

On December 1, 2010, A Direct Answer Investigations, LLC became Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC. The change was made to reflect the anticipated growth of our agency. Very recently, Reichart & Associates began to offer computer forensics services. In addition, we have added personnel and invested in more technology to give our clients a better work product. We are always evaluating ways to improve the quality of service, especially where the equipment to get the job done is concerned. 

Our website is in the process of being totally redesigned which will include video segments with information about our services. We encourage you to check back in the very near future to view the new format. 

Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC, wants to thank all the clients that helped make 2010 a successful year.

We are private investigators serving Philadelphia, Reading, Pottstown, Lancaster, Lebanon, Chester, Allentown, and Pottsville.

 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Reichart, President

Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC