Spousal Surveillance F.A.Q.

 

About domestic Spousal Surveillance
Surveillance is the method used to discover if spouses are cheating on each other. It can involve husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends. Also referred to as “tailing someone” it is the technique of putting an investigator out in the field who follows the suspected cheater to document their activities without their knowledge. This is accomplished by recording their activities on videotape.

I’m embarrassed about even talking to someone about this.
We regularly get calls from people who suspect their spouse or significant others of infidelity. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. What you are seeking is peace of mind about something you are not sure of. It is natural to seek to determine if your suspicions are real or imagined. We invest a tremendous part of ourselves in relationships. It is natural to want to determine the strength and integrity of that relationship.

What if I am wrong?
If there is no evidence the subject is cheating, you will have gained peace of mind about your relationship. Since our investigations are 100% confidential, you will not have risked sacrificing the relationship if you are wrong.

Is domestic surveillance legal?
Surveillance is the process of documenting what is going on in the world of an individual. As long as we stay with in the law while conducting our investigation (i.e. not trespassing, etc.), surveillance by a licensed detective is completely legal.

What are the fees charged for domestic surveillance?
Surveillance is billed on an hourly basis plus a mileage charge. Rates are dependant on where the surveillance will take place. As a general rule, in remote areas, the rates are a bit higher. Before the case is started, a strategy is established depending on the circumstances and your needs. Once this plan is in place a budget can be established. Investigation services are payable in advance of the work being conducted. Payment can be made by credit card (over the phone if you wish), or by cash, check or money order.

How is the surveillance plan established?
Planning is often more important than execution. The better job we do of designing the surveillance, the more likely it is to be productive and the more cost effective it will be. Because you know more about your spouses behavior than we ever will, we rely on you to assist us in develop the correct time and place to watch them. We need you to determine when they are most likely to be engaged in this behavior and where we should start the surveillance. If you are not able to discern when with any degree or accuracy, we recommend that you consider when they are not available and we can eliminate those times as a starting point. All these questions and more go into creating an effective surveillance strategy.

How many investigators are used on a domestic surveillance case?
The number of agents used depends on a number of factors. Basic surveillance on an individual being followed from home or an uncomplicated work situation can be conducted by one agent. More complicated scenarios, such as following someone from a high rise office building, or airport or hotel require an additional agent. Other factors in which we may recommend a second agent include fast and aggressive drivers and extra alert drivers who always watch the rear view mirror. Of course an additional agent increases the cost of surveillance, and this factor is also taken into consideration in arriving at your budget. For a proper frame of reference, consider the fact that no law enforcement agency would ever conduct surveillance with less than two cars and few do that. The more investigators, the less likely the chance of detection.

What do I do once the surveillance is set up?
Once the surveillance plan is in place it is important that you do not do anything to alert the subject of the investigation. Do not change your habits and do not ask too many questions about their activities.

How do you follow someone?
The techniques of tailing someone are an acquired skill. When following someone we are constantly weighing two factors against each other. First we want to stay close enough to make sure we do not loose the subject at a traffic light or in heavy traffic. However we are constantly balancing this against staying so close that we run the risk of being observed by the subject. The art of balancing these two factors in a variety of situations can executed well only by having an experienced investigator working the case. In some cases a second agent is preferable or required which allows us to keep safer distances while not minimizing the chance of loosing the subject.

Will the suspected cheater find out that they are being watched?
Our surveillance investigations are 100% confidential. We do everything necessary to insure the covert nature of the investigation. If we ever perceive that the security of the investigation is threatened, we back off and re-evaluate with your input. One important point: Never threaten to hire an investigator. This will make the suspected cheater even more difficult to watch. If you have done this, be sure to tell us ahead of time so we can prepare.

What evidence will I receive at the conclusion?
The evidence collected in domestic surveillance consists of the videotape of the activities and a surveillance report which details all the activity in writing. Both are submitted to you, or if you wish we can maintain them for you.