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 or DVD cameras or by other means.

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?

What if you are 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.

What are the fees charged for domestic surveillance?

Surveillance is billed on an hourly basis with a 4-hour minimum charge 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.  Generally speaking, an investigator will not travel to a location that may only involve 5-10 minutes of observation.   Most surveillance work requires latitude because no one circumstance is similar to another.

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/significant other's behavior than we ever will, we rely on you to assist us in developing 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.  Another factor is that of tailing a subject on a busy highway.  It may be very easy to loose the subject if they suddenly make a turn or perhaps run a traffic light.   Yes, this can be frustrating on anyone's budget but it is a reality of life and is NOT television.  We have worked many a case where if we had not had a second vehicle our subject would have been long gone!   The other factor is that of not being 'spotted' by the subject.  Having the same vehicle 'always' around raises suspicions and if the subject realizes they're being followed they're not going to engage in the activity you have hired us to perform surveillance for.

What do I do once the spousal 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.  In fact, we advise our clients that interfering in an investigation is cause for termination with the loss of any deposits already made including any current charges leading up to that point.  Our job is to move about undetected, un-noticed and unfettered by outside influences.   DO NOT

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 only be executed well by having an experienced investigator work on 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.   All of the other 'techniques' are industry secrets that have been learned the hard way, by doing the work in a 'real' world.

What evidence will I receive at the conclusion?