Surveillance includes GPS monitoring, to which the client has access to, on site surveillance with cameras, and hidden cameras. On site surveillance is when we actually follow and document the person in question. This provides better evidence for both the court and the client, and we ensure the action is well document.
Can't anyone follow somebody?
Trying to do a Private Investigator's job on your, or having someone that is unqualified for the job try and do the job has many repercussions, the least of which is being found out. Having family or friends follow someone can lead to legal repercussions, that may include arrest. Licensed Private Investigators are legally permitted to document a person's actions and use surveillance when following them. We make sure that everything that we do is within the law but don't let that affect out surveillance. We are also experienced with blending in and not being observed while still obtaining the required information. Getting an unqualified person to follow someone is ill-advised because they can miss vital information pertinent to the case. It is also very likely that an unqualified person is found by the subject under surveillance.
How do you set up surveillance at the start of a case?
Surveillance at the start of a case is established with the help of you, the client. When you start a case we ask you to fill out what's called a "Lead Sheet". A "Lead Sheet" consists of everything that you know about the subject to be followed. We like to get the name of the person, his/her car, license plate, the current address, pictures, and what you suspect for us to find.
Won't the person under surveillance find out?
STIS is experienced in surveillance and monitoring, we pride ourselves in our success rate and efficiency. We make sure that when we put someone under surveillance, that we are discreet about our actions. We also ensure that when a person is under surveillance that we keep a reasonable distance and blend in with our surroundings as much as possible. Your satisfaction and discretion is our main concern.
What is my part in the investigation?
When we start the investigation we put a GPS locator on the car to which you, the client, have access to. We ask that you monitor the GPS along with us. The reason that we ask this is so that you don't feel excluded in the investigation, we also ask you to help us in the investigation because we can't monitor the GPS systems 24/7. If you do see any suspicious activity, feel free to notify us and we will investigate it. We also ask that you provide any additional information pertaining to the case you may come across. The most important thing to remember is to act normal, don't give any sign that you might think something is wrong.
Is what you do legal?
Everything that we do is completely within the law and we have all been certified through SLED or South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Without being SLED certified, the work that we do can lead to legal action and/or steep fines. Please do not attempt Private Investigator work without being licensed by SLED. We will provide our licenses upon request, so that you can feel safe with our services.
I'm not sure I want to talk to anyone about this.
This is more common than you would think. We ensure that all of your information is completely confidential, and we will remain impartial in the process. If you are feeling nervous about the process then we can walk you through exactly what an investigation entails. We will not pass any judgement on you for what you are going through.
What evidence do I get at the end of the case?
When the investigation is complete the evidence you receive is dependent on what type of case we were investigating. We provide video and photographic evidence for cases like adultery, child custody, cohabitation, and insurance claims. The evidence that we provide may be from a distance or from a close proximity, depending on the location of the surveillance. If the case becomes a legal case then, with your consent, we will provide all of the evidence that we gathered to the lawyer, and will also write an affidavit testifying to all of the evidence that we obtained.
How many people are typically on an investigation?
The amount of investigators on a case depends on the circumstances of the case. Most cases don't require more than two investigators at a time, and most of the time only require one. An investigation doesn't get made overnight, investigations take time and the more people running surveillance on a subject the more likely the person is to discover that they are being followed. All of our employees are experienced in covert surveillance and are more than qualified to gather the required evidence for an investigation.