While many people install surveillance cameras and other technical devices to secure their homes and offices, surveillance is a much broader term than just security cameras. Technical, mechanical, and physical surveillance are different forms of surveillance that helps investigating teams to find the culprit as soon as possible. Whenever a case is on the table of any investigation officer, different surveillance categories are combined to solve the case effectively and quickly. Detailed surveillance is not needed in most of the cases. However, you must keep yourself aware of the surveillance methods and categories.

What Is Surveillance

Surveillance itself is a category of the security systems. It is the act of monitoring activities, behaviours, and keeping all the information safe in case of an emergency. Surveillance can be both technical such as distance monitoring security cameras, CCTV cameras, alarms, and alarms supplies or physical surveillance such as human intelligence, detective agents, and physical security. Surveillance is used for the prevention of crime, gathering information about an event, or finding evidence against the suspects of a crime.

The Three Categories Of Surveillance

There are different types of surveillance, but the major categories of surveillance used in most of the cases are as follows:

Electronic Monitoring

Electronic surveillance is also called wiretapping where a connection is made with the help of fax, email, internet, or telephonic communication. Different security systems such as sound and video recording cameras and CCTVs are also installed in the areas or in a house where the crime is being committed or will be committed. However, an order from the court is needed for such an investigation. In case of any proof against the suspected person, the convict is liable for punishment for the crime after getting arrested. This type of surveillance is mostly used where organized crimes by criminal organizations have taken place.

Undercover Operations

Undercover operations are another form of surveillance usually adopted for rescue purposes or getting information about a huge criminal organization. For example, an undercover surveillance officer will get dressed as an alcoholic and drug addict to catch the major drug smugglers who are the mastermind of the drug mafia. The officer needs to gain the trust of these groups by behaving like one of them. This kind of surveillance is risky because only a single undercover surveillance officer has to be present among such a group while the other team members are on the backend.

Fixed Surveillance

In fixed surveillance, technical security is used to capture and record all the information and details about a crime spot or any place where there are chances of a crime to happen. Investigators will install a recording device in a car, on a trash can, or a tree in the area in a way that all the movement and activities are easily visible and captured in it. The investigator has to make sure that the camera is fully hidden so that the criminals are not signalled of any threat to change their place and plan.