Great Editor's update by Scott Harrell at Pursuit Magazine concerning Social Networking with PIs.
I think that it is great that they are embracing the whole media vertical thing rather than being a one dimensional print-based magazine.
I would also point out that I just saw a list of types of private investigator services as well on the Be A Private Eye Blog and thought that also was really good information; especially now that many people are either getting into the private investigation business as a new career or established PIs are branching out with new and improved service and product options.
They discuss various types of services under the categories of Surveillance, Insurance, Corporate Investigations, Civil and Domestic Cases, Skip Tracing and Locating Missing People, Forensic Computer Examination, Criminal Defense Investigations, and Political and Discovery Assignments. The list does a great job at enumerating all of the different choices a new private investigator has when trying to figure out what types of PI assignments in which he or she might want to specialize.
The options are endless and the subject really deserves its own entire article here. The blog lists the most obvious ones. I absolutely recommend that investigators find their niche and specialize in only a few types of investigations! There are several important reasons for this, but it can be summed up this way: when you are the most notable investigator in your region of the country for a specific type of investigation, you will find MANY additional opportunities to make a lot more money than if you advertise yourself as a “jack of all trades.” This has been proven across the country time and time again and was something I learned while working for CompassPoint Investigations.
Showing posts with label surveillance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surveillance. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pursuit Magazine for Private Investigators has Posted the September Edition
The September issue of Pursuit Magazine, a private investigator magazine has been posted to their website and it is an important issue for sure.
The National Council of Investigation & Security Services had its annual Hit the Hill campaign in Washington DC, in an effort to meet as many legislators as possible and discuss with them the several bills making the rounds on Capitol Hill that may affect us all as private investigators and our access to sensitive information.
This is extremely important stuff and PM covered both the good and the bad as members who were in DC see it.
We all need to get involved or we are going to lose vital pieces of information that allow many of us to do our jobs and serve the greater good.
Take a look at Pursuit Magazine- it's free and considerably better in my opinion than PI Magazine. http://www.pursuitmag.com
The National Council of Investigation & Security Services had its annual Hit the Hill campaign in Washington DC, in an effort to meet as many legislators as possible and discuss with them the several bills making the rounds on Capitol Hill that may affect us all as private investigators and our access to sensitive information.
This is extremely important stuff and PM covered both the good and the bad as members who were in DC see it.
We all need to get involved or we are going to lose vital pieces of information that allow many of us to do our jobs and serve the greater good.
Take a look at Pursuit Magazine- it's free and considerably better in my opinion than PI Magazine. http://www.pursuitmag.com
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
A New Magazine for Private Investigators is FREE!
Check out Pursuit Magazine- a new private investigator magazine that absolutely blows the doors off of PI Magazine!
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Obtaining Surveillance Video Through a Mirror?
Here is a memo that I've just sent to my surveillance investigators regarding taking video shots through mirrors. A friend of mine had to testify in a case as an expert witness where an investigator had taken video through a mirror and in some video shots, the cast was on opposite legs. My friend, an investigator also, watched the video over and over again and couldn't figure out what was wrong and why the cast was on opposite legs. However, in a 4 minute span when the cast was on one leg, in the other next video shot it was on the opposite leg. My friend asked his client, the subject's attorney if his client was a quick dresser because within 4 minutes the cast went from one leg to the other. Still unable to figure it out, my friend continued watching the video and at a split second, my friend stopped the video and the investigator shooting the video caught a portion of a stop sign and the "p" was backwards on the stop sign. That's when they figured it out that the video was shot through a mirror.
The investigator that had taken the video documented in his report that the subject was wearing the cast on the opposite leg hoping to gain an advantage to his client that the injury was fabricated. That is nothing but dishonesty and against ethics for private investigators. While we all, at times, shoot video through mirrors, I've made it our policy to document in the report that the video is shot through the mirrors and that the angle may be reversed. Any report is a good report as long as its based on actual facts and events. Here is the memo that I sent out to all of our employees:
To All Employees and Sub-Contractors: When videotaping through the any mirror on your vehicle, we must document it in our report that the video was shot through the mirror. When shooting through a mirror, the image is reversed and while it would be more prevalent in a worker's compensation or injury case, it is now our policy to document obtaining video through a mirror in our reports all video that is taken through mirrors on all cases. If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. -KM
It is my company's policy that when shooting through a mirror to not only document it in the report, but to also back the zoom off periodically to show on the video that the scene is being shot through a mirror. Remember: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR -JD
The investigator that had taken the video documented in his report that the subject was wearing the cast on the opposite leg hoping to gain an advantage to his client that the injury was fabricated. That is nothing but dishonesty and against ethics for private investigators. While we all, at times, shoot video through mirrors, I've made it our policy to document in the report that the video is shot through the mirrors and that the angle may be reversed. Any report is a good report as long as its based on actual facts and events. Here is the memo that I sent out to all of our employees:
To All Employees and Sub-Contractors: When videotaping through the any mirror on your vehicle, we must document it in our report that the video was shot through the mirror. When shooting through a mirror, the image is reversed and while it would be more prevalent in a worker's compensation or injury case, it is now our policy to document obtaining video through a mirror in our reports all video that is taken through mirrors on all cases. If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. -KM
It is my company's policy that when shooting through a mirror to not only document it in the report, but to also back the zoom off periodically to show on the video that the scene is being shot through a mirror. Remember: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR -JD
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Conducting Surveillance in a Hotel
Going in cold on a surveillance at a hotel with interior room entrances -need to watch a particular room's door. Wont know which till I get thereand check the layout. Anyone got a tried'n'true excuse for requesting acertain room from the desk clerk on arrival (assuming the one i'll want isunoccupied)? Or at the very least, a good excuse for wanting a certainfloor and certain side of the hotel?Its a major chain - I assume their records would show I've never stayed, sosome "sentimental reasons" bit won't work.Any ideas would be appreciated... -BG
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)