What are some special techniques used in surveillance?
Answers
One of the most common and oldest techniques for surveillance is to actually follow and watch the individual. Agents are known to sit near the homes of suspects and document when they are home and when they leave. This direct form of surveillance establishes the suspect's daily routine, but the downfall is that it may require many man hours.
Alternatively, instead of using law enforcement agents to follow suspects, agencies have begun to rely on technology to complete surveillance. There are two other techniques known as preconstructive and reconstructive surveillance.
Preconstructive surveillance is used to watch certain areas using closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras that record and transmit to local police agencies. The cameras tape the actions and events in a certain area and serve as the law enforcement's eyes and ears. Preconstructive surveillance also can be used to establish which individuals frequently are in the area.
Sarah was identified in several of the CCTVs throughout the area where the car break-ins were taking place. The officers watched the recordings on the CCTVs to complete surveillance of the area and identify subjects who were seen often. The police used preconstructive surveillance techniques and technology in this instance.
Reconstructive surveillance, in contrast, uses evidence left behind at a crime scene to reconstruct events that have taken place. Using fingerprint powder, law enforcement was able to identify Sarah by the fingerprints she left in the cars she broke into. She was not actually seen entering all the vehicles, but the fingerprints and possible DNA she left behind gave the law enforcement team the ability to use reconstructive surveillance.