in distinguishing people? What enables one to say, "I know him," or
"I don't
know him?" It is the unconscious mental act of putting together small
physical
differences in people.
This enables you to distinguish one person
from the
other. This ability is not taught. It is gradually learned and used
from the
earliest age of understanding.
What is NOT developed naturally is the ability to single out a person from
among many others as a suspect. A trained, observant investigator can do this.
People often stop each other on the street and converse without exciting any
suspicion. A subject can likewise stop and talk to one of his friends without
arousing suspicion. After several conversations, however, one will attract the
attention of the perceptive investigator. What is it that the subject did or
failed to do that makes this one meeting different from the rest?
A subject can walk down a street and do several things.
He can light a
cigarette, look in a store window or stand on the curb and watch traffic; all
these things are noted by you, but suddenly the subject does something that
makes the action suspicious. What is the departure from normal human behavior?
Has the attitude switched from careless loitering to alertness?
Has the
attitude switched from alertness to pretended heedlessness? Has he changed his
apparent design of "looking for people" to one of "looking for an automobile?"
These changes may be slight and may defy analysis.
If you are observant,
however, you will note them.
You will become suspicious.
To successfully
conduct a surveillance you must be keenly observant. You must be observant,
also, to perform an undercover investigation.
2.
Surveillance.
a. Surveillance is the planned observation of persons, places, or objects.
It is done to obtain information about the identities or activities of
subjects. Surveillance is concerned mainly with persons. The observation of
places and objects is generally incidental to the main interest: That goal is
seeking information about people.
b. Surveillance can be by foot or vehicle.
It is mainly your use of
common sense, ability, tact, and ingenuity. It is based on your training and
education relative to human motivation and behavior. Well planned and executed
surveillances can be of great help in your investigation. On the other hand,
lack of preparation, poor timing, and unsound surveillance practices can mean
time wasted. This will result in an alerted subject. He will probably then
increase his precautions tenfold.
c. Surveillance may be used to find residences, businesses, or other
places. These may be frequented by persons of interest to the investigation.
They may be places where criminal activity is conducted. Real evidence may be
concealed there. Surveillance is used to get information about the scope and
nature of a person's activities.
One important use of surveillance is the
checking on informants and their information.
MP0100
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