I started this thread so that people could post what they have learned about private investigation to benefit other RLSH. If possible, please list your source. This would also be a good place to post book titles, and links to web sites related to private investigation, that you would recommend.

Build an avatar... that is, a persona you don during investigation. Details in the morning.

That can be quite similar to these persona's we don now. Better yet, investigating is all about research, I'd say periodically visit prisons and talk with some of the inmates there. They can give you quite an insight on what they think and how they think. This can contribute to your investigations as if it is dealing with a stalker, you know how they would react and where to find the like.

It's actually more like Moon Knight and the cabbie persona he adopted. One of his many. Joe Anybody as it were, a non-descript facade you could easily adopt to shadow your' subject.

A good technique to practice is tailing from ahead of the target, or on the opposite side of the street. There's an art to "shadowing" people, you can't just follow somebody for 27 blocks and expect them not to notice, even my blind aunt would catch you before then....... then again she kicked my ass at disc golf, pool, darts and bowling. Forget the blind aunt part, the point is you have to keep on your' game and adapt different approaches. Creative, not careless.

That sounds sweet. Is there a name to this method of shadowing? Where can you learn this from?

I don't know what it's called, but I'm pretty sure it's not an uncommon practice. And as with anything, practice makes perfect. Shop windows are reflective, good for checking beyond your' peripheral.

Personally, I feel that the key is non-chalance.... act as if your' on an errand, or better yet, just out for a walk. Check out the windows as if perousing for things of interest. Never ever watch your' subject too intently, that will probably give you away.

As far as a "Joe Anybody" persona; don't go crazy, ie; fake facial hair, excess weight or prosthetics. Keep it simple, tourist, shopper maybe even a homeless get-up. NO crossdressing or turning Entomo into "Sherman Klump", funny as it may seem at the time. If you're doing a character thing, don't try to flex your' acting muscle and over-reach, keep it organic. I know, "costumed activist". This just means that you already have your' "out of left field" stretch the limits role to play. Try to keep closer to home.

Props can be useful... newspapers, shopping bags, cell phones etc. Once again... giant foam fingers on the street or a Sherlock Holmes hat and pipe will probably draw attention.

Just try to keep in mind the kind of person you pay no heed to, then emulate them as best as possible. No Foreign Dignitaries or visiting Royalty.

Wow...and give me proof that you don't already do this now?

Pi work is generally gathering information. you need the info and somebody knows, you need to find that person and get the info.

as for tailing. try tailing in stages if the person is going to some place often enough (like a money or drug drop) follow him part way, then at a later time pick him up where you left off if possible. also take the risk of loosing sight once in a while to manuver to a better position to observe.

a reversable coat with differnt colors on the outside and inside helps as well.

One problem that I have is that I do not blend into the background very well. I do not have an average build. Most people would probably notice me even if I did change my coat. Kind of like John Candy in "Who's Harry Crumb." No matter what crazy costume he was wearing, he was still unmistakably John Candy.

maybe you should try drag then *oh god it hurts* remember when John Candy did that?




*disclaimer- nobody, and I mean nobody! should dress in drag. unless they're a trained professional that is and getting paid lots of money

When tailing a person, make sure your disguise is appropriate to the area. If you are in a business district, a shirt and tie will blend in perfectly because it is not out of place. It's what people expect to see, so they tune it out. Idea Man, that tip is especially for your concern about being obvious. No matter your figure, you will blend in if your dress is appropriate for the environment. Also, most people think they are much sneakier than they really are. Spend time tailing your family and friends. They are the people who know your mannerisms the best and are most likely to bust you in the act. Once you can tail them or approach them in disguise, you are ready to tail a person of interest. Also, take Thanatos' advice to heart about tailing. Good stuff. One last tip: don't wear sunglasses. Unless everyone is wearing them, you will stand out. Plus, wearing them makes it DARKER, and we tend to not see so well in darkness, and you don't want to miss important details because your vision was occluded by your Blue Blockers.

This avatar thing you guys mentioned... I think you might be better off just using pretexts or "pretexting" as some people call it. If you want readily available info, maybe look up "social engineering" on some hacker sites.

Basically you probably don't have to put a ton of time and effort into developing a persona if all you need is to use one particular pretext to get one particular bit of information.

Pretext is a good way to get information from more innocuous sources like secretaries and court reporters, who have details you won't likely get from tailing someone. Using pretext to get info directly from, say, a drug dealer might require you to get farther into his world than you'd want to go. Always be as safe as you can be. Pretext is a valuable tool, but one must be skilled at it.

I offer a course. One who knows what they are doing can not just say what they know in a short little blurb here.

I am opening an RLSH detective agency soon. If you think you're up for actual work with real investigations, I'd welcome you to apply.

-Wolf

Thats great, Its good to at least have some small insight on things you can use to help.

Thank you all, and Wolf, its very cool that your working on an agency soon, I would be very intersted. very interesting to use this, its very batman of us to use detective techniques out on patrol.

RED VOLTAGE

Yes it is. If anyone is interested, contact me via private message.

-Wolf

Wolf, it's a very important point you make here. Unless one has a vast amount of spare time, any postings made for educational purposes will be incomplete. Going on patrol with half-information could get a newer rlsh in deep trouble. It is best to get education from a professional who has a large body of experience.