Customer Reviews

SERIOUS SURVEILLANCE FOR THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Please note that this review is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, an assessment of Mr. Bruno's skills in and/or knowledge of the private investigation profession. I personally consider Mr. Bruno to be one of the premier investigators in the nation, especially in the area of covert surveillance.

As a licensed private investigator, college instructor of private investigation courses, and an experienced covert surveillance operative, I can personally tell you that the title of this book is highly misleading. This book contains little information regarding actual covert surveillance techniques/procedures - certainly nothing worthy of the title. As always, be fully aware of what you are purchasing and you won't be disappointed.

Bruno's book is good for those investigators that have the time and resources to equip a van specifically for covert surveillance. I can personally tell you however that I, like most private investigators, perform the vast majority of my surveillance activities using my personal vehicle, which I have equipped accordingly. So if you are looking to equip a surveillance van, this book might be what you are looking for; other than that, I would advise against purchasing this title.

If you are looking for a title that actually contains useful (emphasis added) surveillance techniques/procedures, I would highly recommend: "Covert Surveillance: The Manual of Surveillance Training" by Peter Jenkins (ISBN: 0953537803). I have had the pleasure of reading this fine text, which I consider to be the only covert surveillance techniques/procedures book worth recommending. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a copy for purchase.

As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.

I hope you found this review helpful. [...]

This is a case of a simple minded man writing a simple, useless, and outdated book. How anyone can conduct surveillance (exclusively)out of a van is beyond me. I've been tracking people for 18 years and getting film of what they do. Life is just too fast moving to sit in a van. Investigators must be responsive on short notice; that means using a host of vehicles to suit whatever situation is at hand. Bob just sits in his van; worse yet, his cloned backup shows up in another van. Bob had a heat stroke from sitting in his van. Had to be rushed to the hospital. Give me a Toyota extended cab with a good AC, I'll use my wits to set up and run a smart surveillance; and be quick and fresh when its time to follow and film. If you can't follow then you can't film! Bob gives the following bad advise: he says: give the attorney the original film (Hey Bob, attorneys lose stuff!); he says: don't film the claimant if he changes his tire because everyone will think you flattened the tire (Hey Bob, film everything!); he says: when the claimant departs, just sit and wait for him to come back (Hey Bob, learn to follow and get the film wherever the claimant goes)I would fire someone for using Bob's static approach. Nothing worth spending money for here.

In a large reference library, this book is one of the best when it comes to practical, nuts-and-bolts surveillance. On p. 62, Bruno writes, "On one ocassion, there was absolutely no place to do surveillance without looking out of place." Then he goes on to describe how they got the job done anyway - - a solution I have never seen anywhere else. BUY THE BOOK.

Serious Surveillance for the Private Investigator is a great book for anyone who is serious about surveillance. This book teaches you everything you need to know how to conduct a successful surveillance. Even If you are an experienced surveillance operative, after reading this book you may change the the way you do surveillance .

This is a great book! I really enjoyed reading this. I recommend buying this one if you are interested in surveillance.

Having spent a great amount of years carrying out surveillance both for the government and in the Private sector, I can honestly say that this book has to be one of the worst I've ever read on the subject.

As someone else said, it should be entitled "How to Equip a Surveillance Van". It tells practically nothing about anything else - no real tactics (unless you include "blasting through a red light!") - and is of no benefit at all to a new surveillance operative. It will more than likely get you compromised, and also fired if you use the shoddy outdated report format the author suggests!

The book is in dire need of an update - but even then, unless the content changes dramatically, it would still be of no use. In my opinion, the best book on the market at the moment is "Advanced Surveillance" by Peter Jenkins - even old hands can learn a trick or two from it. Buy that if you want to learn - don't waste your money on serious surveillance - its a serious joke.

After retiring from the Law Enforcement area I decided to go to work in the area I thought I knew best. I wanted to be a P.I. and learned that surveillance in the insurance industry is where the money is. I looked for literature, books and even spoke with what investigators would talk to me. Most were not happy to reveal what secrets they knew of. I got on the web and looked a little further and found Bruno's book. THIS was the only thing on the market concerning a technical manual regarding the area I was looking for. I did obtain a copy of Ralph Thomas's book on surveillance but it covered a WIDE range of areas that did not concern me. When I first read Bruno's book, I found it to be easy reading, but VERY informative since in law enforcement they do not teach us how to outfit a vehicle, much less what type of vehile to use or how to get into positon. In fact, while commissioned we used Chevrolet Corsicas to do surveillance with. While the information was good for 1992, I believe all of us in this business or trying to get into this business will agree, the methods and technology have changed considerably. I also understand that the publisher is about to get a new manuscript from Bruno on today and tommorrow's technology. I will buy that book for my library as I have this one. This is a good book for even a police officer who chased tail lights for 22.5 years! Buy the book! If you read the review from the Surveillance Guru and then read zkbeckers, one would wonder what becker had in mind. Looking at his cyber technology and the books on his wish list indicated to me he was interested in buying books on other than surveillance. My money's on Bruno. IF Becker has a better book on surveillance, I'll buy that too! Wherever I can get information, it can only help me. Bruno, I look forward to your new book!

I've read Inphoto's books and NAIS books but this one is really serious about surveillance. No stories, just really how to do surveillance. I checked his web page and found he has two other books not yet published that can be purchased directly from his Company. Bruno definetely knows surveillance. A real pit bull investigaor other investigators would want to know.

When this book was written it was the first one on the market for anyone seeking ANY kind of information on surveillance. While I am the first to agree this book is way past it's time several things still prevail. It has been said that the title is misleading. I guess that would be a matter of perspective. When I spoke of SERIOUS, I was referring to the amount of money one spends on buying the best equipment out there to do the job with. At the time of the writing, what I had was state of the art. While, several of you would disagree about "Doing one thing, about converting and old van into a surveillance van" is all the book is about. I have a couple of comments about that, that anyone doing surveillance should agree with. Once you are outside of your vehicle, your danger rate goes up about 90%. Your personal danger that is. If you stay in your van, or vehicle and stay far enough away, with powerful lenses you should have no problem being "Made". Your only concern are those around you. While at the time, I had serious competitors, I have now retired and can say what I want. I purposely left things out of the book so they could not see what we were really doing. If you live in NY, I would agree, this book is not for you. If you are over 40 you should have a van. Why? Comfort.
This may be a mobile society, but being scrunched up in the back of an SUV is not my idea of doing a complete surveillance. We did a survey and found (This was all based on insurance surveillance) that men made terrible claimants. They couldn't stay indoors for a full 8 hours. (We would be on station for up to 10) We knew they would come out for air and we knew we would catch them on film. When they became mobile, we casually followed. They may go to the doc's office, they may go to physical thereapy and finally they may go to the grocery store. When they do, THAT was the video I wanted and needed. I had plenty of time to set up, plenty of time to capture those most needed moments. I kept my distance (we) and the claimants never knew they were even followed. O.k. I missed them going into the doc's office. So what did I miss? Them opening the door, them limping? What? SO I missed them going into physical thereapy, I got them coming out. I got that famous limp. Was that enough?
Not really. But I got them coming out of the grocery store carrying 6 bags of groceries. 3 in each arm! Was that worth it? One has to decide what, during their day they would hope to capture on film. We knew age groups, ethnic backgrounds and work they did before the injury. Statistics was a good precursor to what we would see that day. While it did not always work, in 80% of the cases it did. If the claimant was a welder, you can bet your boots at one time or another he will do it again, injury or not. Same with other blue collar fields.
About my reports. During and up till the time I retired, most attorneys did NOT want a report and allow the video tape to do the talking. I did my best to detail every movement of the claimant, but all that happened was the attorney never produced it. In fact I was told time and again to either not create one, but If I had to, do it generically. No specifics.
So now you all know why and what was SERIOUS. You would show up to a job site with no tools, would you? And if you did, you didn't buy them in the home section at Wally mart did you? NO, spend the money. Borrow it(The money) and be serious about what you are about to embark on. Remember, buying cheap is buying twice. I am placing my e-mail address in here for feedback if you desire. I am not looking to be harranged, just what about the parts I left out? AND there were many. Look at the date of the writing. You won't find a book on amazon older than it. BUt to this day, the knowledge still applies. I can't tell you how many times I have seen investigators doing surveillance out of mini vans, with dark tinted windows, no plate and their vin covered up. This also goes for SUV's. When you get older, comfort is a big issue. As far as "Being a mobile society" Well, if one is doing domestice work. I would have to agree. WHile that is a way to make a living, to me it's seedy. Not my style. I could write another book, but I guarantee you, by the time it came out, several database companies will be out of business and a new camera format will prevail. In fact, as far as filming goes my book was outdated the day it hit the market. At least equipment wise. I retired at age 53 and live very comfortably. Look at yourself, and where you are. I must have done something right. As far as an author goes, well, I could use some help, I sure am not denying that. E-mail me, I'll tell you what I couldn't in the book. That way, you'll get your moneys worth. [...] and good luck. Bob Bruno

This thin, poorly written and edited book, provided very little serious help of any kind in my attempt to gain knowledge of this subject. Bruno repeatedly emphasizes exactly _one_ technique: buy and outfit yourself an old conversion van. Even a novice law enforcement officer could come up with a multitude of creative and common-sense techniques if equipped with even a miniscule amount of imagination.

My recommendation instead? The Art of Surveillance by Kelly E. Riddle.