Secrets Of Surveillance: A Professional’s Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation [Paperback]

ACM IV Security Services (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 087364722X | ISBN-13: 978-0873647229 | Publication Date: September 1, 1993

Pros know that the real secret of surveillance lies in the skill of the operators, not in high-tech gadgets. This book is for the true practitioners of the craft. It focuses on tactics that can only be learned from stalking the streets and standing in the shadows.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087364722X
• ISBN-13: 978-0873647229
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Education & Reference > Catalogs & Directories > Directories
  • #94 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > True Accounts > Espionage

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Of Little Value To Private Investigators..., December 1, 2004

By 

Michael Beltz, FCI "truthsleuthpi" (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets Of Surveillance: A Professional’s Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation (Paperback)

As a licensed private investigator, college instructor of private investigation courses, and an experienced covert surveillance operative, I can personally tell you that most of the techniques described in this book are of little value to private sector investigators like myself. The vast majority of techniques described assume that the "surveillance team" has an unlimited supply of resources and operatives (i.e. a law enforcement team). Anyone with even remote covert surveillance experience knows that this will seldom (more likely never) be the case.

Most private sector covert surveillance operatives (i.e. private investigators) work alone or in teams of two (when and only when the Client can afford it of course). Therefore, the vast majority of the techniques covered in this book are of little use to most private investigators. There is some (emphasis added) good information in this book, but certainly not what one would expect based on the 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. [...]

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Secrets of Surveillance : A Professional's Guide to Tailing, December 20, 1999

By 

Russel Hutchings (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets Of Surveillance: A Professional’s Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation (Paperback)

An excellant book for those who are interested in or who actually employ surveillance techniques. This book provides the reader with an insight into the basic mechanics required to conduct Surveillance operations. If you are new to this game, then this book will assist you in gaining a good grasp of the basics. However, if you are looking for the intricacies of the techiniques to become an effective operator, then you may be let down somewhat. In order to balance this review, the book is let down by the lack of any photographs which would have been ideal for illustrating issues or techniques the writter wanted to impart. By way of example: The discussion on Disguises and the application of using wigs and false facial hair would be greater served using photographs. This would have been invaluable and would assist the non-oporator to full grasp what is actually required. In addition, the lack of templates for such things as Photographic or Video logs would have been a useful tool to be included in this book. Nevertheless, it is a good book and well worth reading.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very simple minded, April 17, 2000

By 

James S. Reed (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets Of Surveillance: A Professional’s Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation (Paperback)

First, this books does have some interesting ideas and is worth buying. However, it is written at an intelligence level that would insult a bright sixth grader. Also, it assumes you will have half a dozen people involved in the surveillance of one person and is not aimed at an individual working at surveillance alone.